MODULE 4

Vhf omnirange (vor)

MOHAMED SAMEER T K Aero Dept. JCET

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VHF omnirange (VOR) is an electronic navigation system that enables a pilot to determine the bearings of the VOR transmitter from any position in its service area. This is possible because the VOR ground station, or transmitter, continually broadcasts an infinite number of directional radio beams or radials.

The VOR signal received in an airplane is used to operate a visual indicator from which the pilot determines the bearings of the VOR station with respect to the airplane.
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Each VOR operates between 108 -117.5 MHz (VHF range). Each ground station broadcasts a VHF radio composite signal including:
(i)

ground stations identity in Morse code (ii) bearing data which is received by the VOR receiver to deduce a magnetic bearing from the station to the aircrafti.e., the direction from the VOR ground station with respect to the earth's magnetic north at the time of installation
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This line of aircraft's position with respect to selected VOR station, is called a RADIAL from the VOR.

If two VOR radials are simultaneously sensed, then the aircraft's present position is fixed by the intersection of the two radials on the overlaid digital map.
VOR provides 360 courses to and from the VOR station selectable by the pilot.

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The VOR's main advantage is that the radio signal furnishes a reliable and unambiguous radial line from the VOR ground station, which is selected by the pilot, to follow the correct course. VORs are more accurate and reliable than NDB/ADFs for a variety of reasons; (i) Less course bending around hills and coastlines (ii) Less interference from thunderstorms (iii)More accurate bearing (degrees) information, as radials (one of 360 radials) (iv) Surrounding MF radio stations do not affect VOR 6

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VOR's main disadvantage is, since it works in VHF band, a direct line-of-sight (LOS) to VOR station from the aircraft must exist, to obtain the bearing data from the station. This means that a large network of stations is required to get reasonable coverage over the air routes, more so in mountainous terrains.

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Principle of VOR Operation VOR stations have VHF frequency allocations between 108.0 MHz and 117.95 MHz, with a spacing between successive stations of 50 kHz. VOR issues two signals (i) Reference phasea 30 Hz signal is frequency modulated on a sub-carrier of 9960 Hz. (ii) The second-phase is also 30 Hz modulated, but this time, amplitude-modulated, and it is derived from the rotation of a directional antenna array-30 times per second.
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A highly directed beam is radiated out of VHF station, over the entire 0-360 degree at an interval of each degree. Present day installations scan electronically with no moving parts (Such electronic beam is based on phased-array antenna) The signals are received by the on-board VOR receiver and the two 30 Hz signals are detected and then compared to obtain the phase angle between the reference-phase and sense phase. The phase angle difference represents the direction from the VOR station to the aircraft, in degrees on the local magnetic north. This is called a RADIAL, representing the line between the VOR station and aircraft in azimuth 9

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The two separate 30 Hz signals are modulated on the same carrier, and they constitute the reference phase and the variable phase. The variable phase is a 30 Hz amplitude modulated signal. The reference phase is a 30 Hz frequency modulated on a 9960 Hz subcarrier.

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Transmitter The ground station consists of a standard AM transmitter. A high-power (~200 W) used for en-route VOR, covering a range of several hundred Kms. A 50 W transmitter is adequate for near-airport use the so called Terminal VOR or TVOR, covering only about 50 km range.

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The transmitter modulator gets its input signals from three sources (i) Reference phase generator (ii) Variable phase generator (iii) Station identification signals. Morse code Voice

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Reference phase generator: (30 Hz) The reference phase generator comprises a soft iron wheel (the tone wheel) with 332 teeth projecting out of its circumference. An electromagnetic pick up consisting of a permanent magnet and a search coil gives an output signal every time a tooth moves past the pickup, due to variable reluctance. The wheel is rotated at 1800 rpm to give a 9960 Hz
1800 X 332 9960 Hz 60
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Stationary Antennas

Rotating Antennas

VOR station for broadcast the signal

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Pilot must be able to identify the VOR station to which he has tuned the on-board receiver.
The station ID is packed as International Morse code, representing dots and dashes.

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Variable phase generator: (also 30 Hz but variable phase). Variable-phase signal is generated by a rotating horizontal dipole rotating within the 'dust bin' like drum, which radiates the omnidirectional beam, through the vertical slots in the periphery of the drum.
The dipole antenna is energized by amplitude-modulated 30 Hz signal. The dipole rotates along with the tone-wheel generator, and hence' driven by the same shaft.

This maintains the phase relation between REFERENCE phase and VARIABLE phase signals
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The phase relation between REFERENCE phase signal and VARIABLE-phase signal is adjusted on ground, such that the phase difference between them is zero at magnetic earth radial of VOR transmitter. When the signal is received by an airborne receiver, the frequency-modulated signal is decoded from the side band and the 30 Hz reference frequency is extracted. The variable signal is also recovered from the VHF receiver. The two signals are then compared, resulting in a phase difference between them.
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VOR Receiver

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The airborne VHF receiver is a standard VHF receiver equipment in which the RF signal received is processed as follows: 1. Audio signal is extracted from the demodulator output and processed in the Audio processor to give an aural output through a loudspeaker. 2 Reference signal is derived from the output of the AM demodulator. The frequency modulated, 9960 Hz subcarrier is recovered to yield 30 Hz reference signal. 3. Amplitude modulated variable phase signal is obtained in the 30 Hz filter.
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A phase comparator compares the relative phase difference between the reference wave and the lagging variable signal to obtain the bearing information. As the horizontal dipole antenna, mechanically rotates' a phase lag occurs proportional to the difference between magnetic north and the radial at any instant. It is this phase lag, that gives the bearing of aircraft with reference to the magnetic north. To fly a specific angle from a particular VOR station, the pilot simply tunes the station the radio, dials that angle into the RMI indicator and then keeps the pointer centered on the display
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Typical display on RMI of aircraft flying west (270") with ADF1 bearing : 300' and VOR2 bearing: 50'. Double-bar indicator gives magnetic bearing to selected VOR2 Single-bar indicator gives magnetic bearing to selected ADF1.
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Indications on Radio Magnetic Indicator(RMI)

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ADVANTAGES More accurate & precise flying: The accuracy of course alignment of the VOR is excellent, being generally plus or minus 1 degree. Reliable: Can be used day and night. Multiple number of route : Provide multiple number of route towards or away from each station.
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DISADVANTAGES Signals can not be received at low altitudes (below 1000ft)
VORs are sensitive to the interference of terrain. The nearest mountains and buildings cause the VOR bearings to be stopped and interrupted. Other disadvantages is VOR equipments are costly to maintain.

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