VOR Navigation
 

I'm planning for my first CX flight from KTPL to KAQO. I'm trying to involve VORs in my flight planning. I know the basics, to fly to a vor, first tune the frequency on NAV1, listen to the morse code. Then turn the OBS till you get the centerline with a TO indication. Fly the plane towards the TO heading on VOR, and make necessary adjustments. To know where you are, you can select two VORs, and select radial from both VORs with a From indication. Make the needle center on both VORs, and where the lines intercept is generally where you are. Anything else I need to know? I don't have a DME on the plane, so I don't know how far I'll be from the VORs, till I cross the Cone of Confusion, and wait for the From flag. Thanks for the help.

I don't think you should be focusing on VOR nav if this is your first true cross country. Stick to Pilotage and dead rec. If you want to suppliment with a VOR cross check or two do so. VORs are easy, but they're also easy to screw up with if you're that unfamiliar with them.

My suggestion would be wait until doing a night cross country with your instructor to spend some time on VOR nav.

Pilotage and dead reckoning are two great skills that need to be learned. I would also recommend your first cross country use these skills. Maybe use pilotage on the way out, and dead reckoning on the way back.

DME is very helpful, and when I go flying I prefer aircraft that have DME. If you don't have DME, just use find your position relative to two VOR's, find out where the line intersects, and then measure how far you are from the VOR using a ruler. It is just slightly more work, but definately something that should be learned.

Good luck. Solo cross countries are the best part of of private training (except maybe unusual attitudes!)

I third the statements above. If you still absolutely have to use some sort of VOR nav on your cross country do a cross radial for a pilotage waypoint. Draw it out on your sectional and see what the OBS reads when it is centered up. You can't really mess it up and its a good intro.

I'm not primarly relaying on the VOR for navigation, I'm still going to use pilotage and dead reckoning. I'm just using VOR since my CFI told to include it, and as a back up. I have navigated with a VOR before when I had to fly back from the practice area to the airport with VOR. Any pointers? Thanks.

As far as flight planning goes, be familiar with the VOR's that you "could" use if needed along your route of flight. Right down the frequency and morse code on your flight plan form.

If you truly understand how to use VORs, the next step is to learn "when" to use them.

Best person to ask is your flight instructor, have fun!

A good way to incorporate VORs in your cross crounty is to draw a line from the VOR to one of your visual check points on your route. Take note of the radial. Set the radial into the OBS, the needle should center at the same time you cross your visual checkpoint. If there is another VOR close by, then you can pinpoint your exact location relative to your visual checkpoint.

A bit off topic with VORs though, when planning I like to look at all the airports that will be along my route, I write the tower frequency on my planning sheet, along with the the App/Dep controler. For example going from Trenton to the southwest side of Philly's Bravo, you some times might be handed off to several different controllers. Also when you get handed off, if you don't have the freq written down, write it down. All this helps if you're not sure who to talk to. The tower freqs for apts along your route help out if you have a problem you can look at your plan instead of having to fumble through an AFD or the sectional.
Good Luck, I'm still doing my XCs for the commercial. They're enjoyable.

Also keep in mind that the farther you are from the VOR, the less sensitive the needle will be and always listen for the code to make sure you are on the right one.