Chapter 9

VOR
VHF Omnidirectional Range
 VOR

VOR stands for

VHF Omnidirectional Range.

A VOR is a radio beacon that transmits a

signal that represents the 360º of the
compass.
VOR Ground Station

Above is a VORTAC station.

VORTAC stands for VOR + TACAN.
TACAN Stands for Tactical Air Navigation and it includes DME.
DME is Distance Measuring Equipment, and it’ll tell you how far
your are from the station.
The “counterpoise” is the base of the station and provides
grounding of the station.
 VOR Service Coverage
VOR broadcasts from
108.000-117.950 MHZ.
It’s operational service
volume is up to 130 NM
from the station (upper
right).
There are 3 types of
VOR stations (lower
right).
AFD Airport / Facility Directory
 VOR Phases
The VOR signal is comprised of a
Reference Phase and a Variable
Phase.

The Reference Phase is

broadcast in all directions.
The Variable Phase is a rotating
beam. Textbook page 59

The difference of phase between

the Reference Phase and the
Variable Phase is used by the
VOR receiver in the airplane to
calculate the bearing from the
station.
VOR Signal Structure

Textbook page 60
 VOR 2 Signals
Here is the VOR signal as it
appears to the receiver.
The carrier rises and falls in
strength (AM).
The signal is at max strength
when the rotating beam is pointed
directly at the airplane shown by
the blue arrow.
The red arrow shows the highest
frequency of the subcarrier which
occurs at N.
The receiver compares the 2
signals by measuring the phase of
each signal then calculates the
difference as a magnetic course
from the VOR.

Textbook page 61
 VOR Broadcasts 2 Signals
The Reference and Variable
Phase signals from the VOR
cannot be mixed during
transmission.
To keep them apart, the
Reference Phase is placed on a
“subcarrier”.
At resting frequency of 9960 HZ,
the subcarrier is shifted up and
down in frequency by the
Reference Phase 30x/sec. (FM)
The illustration shows the
subcarrier increases in frequency
going positive and decreases
frequency going negative.
N is indicated at max positive
shown by the left arrow and is at
10,440 HZ.
S is indicated at max negative
shown by the right arrow and is at
9480 HZ.
VOR Block Diagram
Textbook page 62
VOR Navigation Textbook page 63
 VOR Indicator
Here is a VOR Indicator used in
General Aviation.

The VOR course is selected by

turning the OBS (Omni Bearing
Selector) knob to the desired
course.

The Course Deviation Indicator

(CDI) displays steering
commands.

Textbook page 63
 Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)
Here is an HSI.

The compass card is slaved to the

compass system and shows the
aircraft’s heading automatically.

The course is selected by a knob

located elsewhere and is
displayed by digitally in the upper
right corner and by the course
needle, here it is 20°.

The deviation bar shows that we

are off course to the right.
Textbook page 64
 Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI)
The RMI displays both VOR
and ADF (automatic
direction finder) information.
The compass card is slaved
to the compass system.

Textbook page 64
Nav Control-Display

Textbook page 65
(RNAV) Area Navigation
Since the VOR’s have a relatively short range, using them
to navigate would cause “doglegs”, flying a “connect-the-
dots” path.
RNAV, or area navigation solves this problem by
referencing VOR stations and computing a straight-line
path.
Review Q&A Chapter 9 VOR

9.1 What is the name of a combined VOR and TACAN navigational station?
Answer: VORTAC
9.2 What problem of early radio navigation did VOR overcome?
Answer: It is immune from electrical interference.
9.3 VOR waves travel ______.
Answer: 130 nautical miles.
9.4 Name the 2 major components of a VOR signal.
Answer: Reference and Variable
9.5 The reference phase broadcasts in what direction?
Answer: All directions
9.6 The variable phase rotates ___ times per second.
Answer: 30
9.7 What happens when the variable phase moves though magnetic north (0°)?
Answer: The reference phase goes to it’s max positive and the subcarrier rises to 10,440
HZ.
9.8 How does the VOR receiver know its bearing from the VOR station?
Answer: It compares the 2 signals and uses the difference to calculate bearing to the
station.
9.9 Besides fixed and variable phase signals, what other information is broadcast by a
VOR station?
Answer: Station ID in Morse Code and in voice.
9.10 What is the purpose of the course deviation indicator (CDI) on a VOR receiver?
Answer: To display steering information to the course.
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