Student Guide

Radio Navigation Aids

(RNA)

CHAPTER 5

USING VOR DME

The Omni-Bearing Selector (OBS).

The basic elements of an OBS is the basis of many types of VOR display. The
common features encountered on displays are:

 deviation indicator needle which indicates displacement from selected

track;
 track selection control (may be referred to as an omni bearing selector);
 window displaying selected track;
 window indicating whether selected track is TO or FROM the VOR;
 flag alarm.

Course Deviation Indicator

In operation, if a pilot wishes to fly to a VOR station he selects the track required
to reach the station using the track selection control. The selected track will then
be displayed in the appropriate window, and the "TO" flag should appear in the
TO/FROM window (if 'FROM' appears the wrong track has been selected).

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 Student Guide
Radio Navigation Aids
(RNA)
Note that when flying TO, the VOR track to be selected is the reciprocal of
the radial to be flown.
The deviation needle will then indicate the position of the aircraft relative to the
selected track at that time, as follows:

 If the aircraft is on the selected track the needle will be centred (A)
 If the aircraft is right of the selected track the needle will be deflected to the
left (B);
 if the aircraft is left of the selected track the needle will be deflected to the
right.

In the two latter cases the amount of displacement from the selected track can
be assessed by relating the needle to the scale of fixed dots marked
horizontally on the indicator, each dot representing a displacement of 2 o.
(Maximum deflection is 10o)

In order to maintain the selected track the pilot must keep the needle in the
centre of the display. If the needle deflects to the right the aircraft must be
turned right to regain the track - in other words the pilot flies "towards the
needle".

When the aircraft reaches the cone of ambiguity overhead the VOR, or passes
through a sector 20o either side of the station, the deviation needle will
fluctuate erratically from full fly left to full fly right, the TO/FROM indication will
be unstable and the flag alarm will normally appear (C). If the aircraft intends
to fly away from the VOR on a different track the new track is selected at this
time.

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 Student Guide
Radio Navigation Aids
(RNA)
Note - In the diagram above the required outbound track from the VOR is the
same as that used inbound, and therefore no reselection is required on
passing the VOR.

Aircraft E in the above diagram illustrates the display situation that would
result if an incorrect track is selected by an aircraft inbound to the VOR. The
aircraft requires to fly inbound on the 090 o radial ie on a track of 270 oM. If, by
mistake, the track selected is 090 o (the reciprocal of the actual track required)
the indications on the instrument will be the opposite of the actual situation as
follows:

 the aircraft is flying towards the VOR but the TO/FROM meter indicates
FROM;
 the aircraft is to the left of the selected track but the deviation needle
incorrectly indicates the need to turn left to regain track.

If, in fact, the pilot "follows" the needle in the normal way the aircraft will end
up making a 180 o turn to finally establish outbound from the VOR on the track
mistakenly selected.

Aircraft E should, of course, have selected a track of 270 oM as illustrated by

aircraft F.

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 Student Guide
Radio Navigation Aids
(RNA)
Advantages of the VOR

 Produces 360 discrete radials, each of which can be easily followed by a

suitably equipped aircraft.
 As a VHF aid it is free from night effect and practically free from static or
weather generated interference.
 It has the highest accuracy of all the point-source en-route navigation aids.
 When co-located with a frequency paired DME, it can provide fixes.
 Simultaneous information from more than one VOR can be used by an air
data computer or flight management system as the basis of an area
navigation capability.
 VORs may be used as holding fixes.
 VORs may be used as non-precision approach aids.
 Most overland airway centrelines are defined in terms of VOR radials.
 The airborne display system usually incorporates an automatic equipment
failure warning.
 May be used by ATC for the separation of aircraft.

Disadvantages of the VOR

 The transmissions are line of sight, and numerous ground stations are
required to provide good low level coverage.

 High ground and man-made obstructions can cut off, reflect or distort the
transmitted signals resulting in considerable siting difficulties, and possible
limited coverage in mountainous areas.

 Only a single position line can be obtained from a ground station at any
one time.

 To obtain a fix bearings must be taken from two different ground stations
and transferred to a chart.

 The accuracy of the system is not sufficient for precision approaches.

 The system is not self contained within the aircraft but relies on the
availability of serviceable ground stations.

 Requires regular flight checking.

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