How to use the VOR
Having got to grips with the NDB and how pilots use it to navigate and approach airfields, our instrument flying series now turns its attention to a more common and accurate radio navigation aid - the VOR.
Improved technology
The VOR operates on the VHF radio band and gets its abbreviation name from VHF Omnidirectional Range. Being on this radio band offers pilots a navigation aid that despite being 'line of sight', has a far greater range than aviation NDBs. It also has the added benefits of being far less susceptible to interference from adverse weather and terrain, as well as having a far greater accuracy. Pilots could now descend through cloud or darkness even closer to the ground and be better lined up with the landing runway.
