Activity 1.3.

1 Radio Navigation Answer

Key
Introduction
Have you ever experienced the panic of being lost? If you have never been lost, can
you imagine how scary it might be? Now imagine being lost in an aircraft. To avoid
this life-threatening experience, pilots use a variety of instruments and tools to
navigate the open sky. Pilots often use a Very High Frequency Omnidirectional
Range Station (VOR). A VOR is a device that aids a pilot’s navigation by providing
bearing information based upon the transmission of two VHF signals, one that
rotates and one that is stationary. In this activity you will use VOR system
information to determine location.

Equipment
 Engineering notebook
 Pencil
 Ruler
 Calculator

Procedure
1. Plot the position of an aircraft displaying these VOR readings on the attached
Chicago sectional map.
See attached map.

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 33
0
3 6 9
33
0
3 15 18
3
12

30

12

30

21
27

9
0

27

9
9
TO TO

15
12
24

12
24

24
15
FR FR
33
21 18 15
21

6
18

18

27
30

3
21
27 30
24 0 33
OBS
OBS

Oshkosh VORTAC Falls VOR-DME

33
0
3 27 30
24
30

6
21

33
27

9
12 TO
24
18

15
FR

0
21 18
15

6 3
12 9
OBS

Manitowoc VOR-DME
2. What landmark is located under your aircraft? Potter
3. Your aircraft is located at 5,500 MSL above the location plotted in step 1. What
will the DME device display if you are tuned to the Falls VOR-DME? Sketch and
calculate this in your engineering notebook. Note that you researched this
NavAid during your pre-flight planning. You know that the Falls VOR-DME is
located at an elevation of 740 ft. Note that 1 nm = 1.15 statute miles = 6076 ft.
23.5 miles (nm). See explanation below.

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4. Plot the position of an aircraft displaying these VOR readings on the Chicago
sectional map on the following page. Use a pencil and ruler.
See attached map. Note that this plot is not a conclusive location fix.

33
0
3 30
33
0
3 30 27 33
27 33

30

6
30

24
24

27

0
TO
27

0
TO

12
4
212
221

FR
12
4

15

3
21
21
15
FR 18

3
18

18
18

6
6
15 9
15 9 12
12
OBS
OBS

Oshkosh VORTAC Falls VOR-DME

5. Label the VOR instrument with the heading and flag indicator as if you were
flying over Dundee (located below the center of the map). The VOR instrument is
tuned to the Falls VOR-DME.

2450 FR or 650 TO

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Conclusion
1. What important factors must a navigator consider when selecting VOR sites?
The angles to the VOR stations must have significant offset angles
relative to each other. The distance to the VOR station must be
appropriate for the elevation of the aircraft.

2. What important considerations do Non-Directional Beacons (NDB) present?

The NDB must be sufficiently far enough from the aircraft so that the
slant range angle does not significantly impact the horizontal range.

3. How accurate would your DME reading be if your aircraft was flying 5,500 ft
above Howard’s Grove and you tuned your DME to Falls VOR-DME?
The range would appear to be farther than the aircraft is horizontally
from the NDB station.

3. 792
6
(2

nm ft)
1,

5,500 ft MSL
(4,760 ft AGL)

740 ft

(3.5 nm = 21,266 ft)

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