Subelement K: K – Aircraft— Topic 69: VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR)
Question 3-69K1
Element 3 (GROL)All directions associated with a VOR station are related to:
Explanation
VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) stations are meticulously calibrated to provide directional information relative to **magnetic north**. The VOR system works by transmitting two signals: a reference phase and a variable phase. The phase difference between these signals, as measured by an aircraft receiver, directly corresponds to the magnetic bearing (or radial) from the VOR station.
This alignment with magnetic north is fundamental because aeronautical charts and aircraft compasses are also referenced to magnetic directions. This consistency simplifies navigation, allowing pilots to easily determine their magnetic bearing to or from a VOR station without needing to account for local magnetic declination themselves.
Options B (North pole/True north) and C (North star/True north) are incorrect because VORs provide magnetic bearings, not true bearings. While true north is used in some navigation contexts, VORs are specifically designed and calibrated to align with magnetic north for practical aviation use.
Related Questions
3-68K5 What radio navigation aid determines the distance from an aircraft to a selected VORTAC station by measuring the length of time the radio signal takes to travel to and from the station?3-68K6 The majority of airborne Distance Measuring Equipment systems automatically tune their transmitter and receiver frequencies to the paired __ / __ channel.3-69K2 The rate that the transmitted VOR variable signal rotates is equivalent to how many revolutions per second?3-69K3 What is the frequency range of the ground-based Very-high-frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) stations used for aircraft navigation?3-69K4 Lines drawn from the VOR station in a particular magnetic direction are: