08/17/2026
Good evening Flight Enthusiasts! Let's talk Navigation!
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VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range)
VOR is a short-range radio navigation system that provides aircraft with bearing information relative to a ground station. It allows pilots to determine which radial (magnetic bearing from the station) they are on.
How it works
The VOR ground station transmits two signals:
️a reference signal (constant)
️a variable signal that rotates 360°
The aircraft’s receiver compares the phase difference between the two signals.
That phase difference equals the radial the aircraft is on (e.g., 090°, 270°).
Key concepts
Radial: A magnetic bearing FROM the VOR station.
TO/FROM: Indicates whether the selected course will take you toward or away from the station and is represented as a flag on the CDI.
CDI (Course Deviation Indicator): Shows lateral deviation from the selected radial.
Types of VOR
Conventional VOR (CVOR) – older, rotating antenna type
Doppler VOR (DVOR) – modern, more accurate, less site-sensitive
Limitations
Line-of-sight (affected by terrain)
Susceptible to site errors
Gradually being supplemented (not fully replaced) by GNSS (GPS)
