How do you read VOR? (VHF omnidirectional range)?

Question

Could someone explain to me the details on how to read VOR?

Answer 1

--Hard to explain.  --Easy to do.

Answer 2

By read, i will go out on the figuartive limb here and take it to mean "navaigate".

VOR's are a ground to air based navigation system that uses a ground based station that tranmits two signals that are picked up by equipment in the aircraft on a certain frequency.

The two signals are important, one is a constant signal, and the other is a variable signal, and the difference in phases of the radio wave is how position is determined.

When flying VOR's, you fly radials "from" the station. You navigate by flying different radials from VOR to VOR.  You put the radial you want to fly  and select  a  TO a station or FROM indication.

or just hit the D→ on the GPS...

Answer 3

in a nutshell,

tune a nav radio to a nav beacon.  The VOR needle will line up on a specific radial that corresponds to your position relative to the beacon.  The VOR will show you the heading either towards or away from the beacon.  

You need to read a FAR/AIM or student pilot manual.   It is a very easy instrument to use.

Answer 4

hard to explain

Answer 5

It's very difficult to explain without diagrams and photographs.

Try an internet search on "VOR navigation," or pick up a copy of the FAR/AIM (Federal Aviation Regulations/Airman's Information Manual).

You can find that at any flight school or in your local library.

Answer 6

The following describes a step-by-step procedure to

use when tracking to and from a VOR station.

First, tune the VOR receiver to the frequency of the

selected VOR station. For example: 115.0 to receive

Bravo VOR. Next, check the identifiers to verify that

the desired VOR is being received. As soon as the VOR

is properly tuned, the course deviation needle will

deflect either left or right; then rotate the azimuth dial

to the course selector until the course deviation needle

centers and the TO-FROM indicates “TO.” If the needle

centers with a “FROM” indication, the azimuth

should be rotated 180° because, in this case, it is

desired to fly “TO” the station. Now, turn the airplane

to the heading indicated on the VOR azimuth dial or

course selector. In this example 350°.

If a heading of 350° is maintained with a wind from the

right  the airplane will drift to the left of the

intended track. As the airplane drifts off course, the

VOR course deviation needle will gradually move to

the right of center or indicate the direction of the

desired radial or track.

To return to the desired radial, the airplane heading

must be altered to the right. As the airplane returns to

the desired track, the deviation needle will slowly

return to center. When centered, the airplane will be on

the desired radial and a left turn must be made toward,

but not to the original heading of 350° because a wind

drift correction must be established. The amount of correction

depends upon the strength of the wind. If the

wind velocity is unknown, a trial and error method can

be used to find the correct heading. Assume, for this

example, a 10° correction or a heading of 360° is maintained.

While maintaining a heading of 360°, assume that the

course deviation begins to move to the left. This means

that the wind correction of 10° is too great and the airplane

is flying to the right of course. Aslight turn to the

left should be made to permit the airplane to return to

the desired radial.

When the deviation needle centers, a small wind drift

correction of 5° or a heading correction of 355° should

be flown. If this correction is adequate, the airplane

will remain on the radial. If not, small variation in

heading should be made to keep the needle centered,

and consequently keep the airplane on the radial.

As the VOR station is passed, the course deviation needle

will fluctuate, then settle down, and the “TO” indication

will change to “FROM.” If the airplane passes to

one side of the station, the needle will deflect in the

direction of the station as the indicator changes to

“FROM.”

Generally, the same techniques apply when tracking

outbound as those used for tracking inbound. If the

intent is to fly over the station and track outbound on

the reciprocal of the inbound radial, the course selector

should not be changed. Corrections are made in the

same manner to keep the needle centered. The only difference

is that the omni will indicate “FROM.”

If tracking outbound on a course other than the reciprocal

of the inbound radial, this new course or radial must

be set in the course selector and a turn made to intercept

this course. After this course is reached, tracking

procedures are the same as previously discussed.

When flying “TO” a station, always fly the

selected course with a “TO” indication. When flying

“FROM” a station, always fly the selected

course with a “FROM” indication. If this is not

done, the action of the course deviation needle will

be reversed. To further explain this reverse action,

if the airplane is flown toward a station with a

“FROM” indication or away from a station with a

“TO” indication, the course deviation needle will

indicate in an opposite direction to that which it

should. For example, if the airplane drifts to the

right of a radial being flown, the needle will move

to the right or point away from the radial. If the

airplane drifts to the left of the radial being flown,

the needle will move left or in the opposite direction

of the radial.

Answer 7

Especially as a new student pilot I found the VOR simulator link really helpful. It allows you to practice with various settings showing geographical aircraft location in relation to the station and the expected VOR reading.

http://newaviator.blogspot.com/2006/10/i...