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What Is VOR? Definition & Meaning in Aviation

A VOR (VHF omnidirectional range) is a radio beacon that tells an aircraft its bearing from the station.

In plain language

VORs mark the airways that aircraft follow and are used as waypoints. Modern aircraft rely more on satellite navigation, but VORs still serve as backup.

Example

Airways over Pakistan are defined by waypoints, many of them at navigation beacons.

Why it matters

VORs are the backbone of traditional airway navigation and still serve as a backup to satellite navigation. Many named waypoints in the sky began life as VOR stations.

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