VIII.

VOR SITING CRITERIA

The following paragraphs outlining the site requirements are taken from the sources indicated.
Use these recommendations when evaluating the potential VOR site.
1. From EUROCAE
The following summarizes the information on Figures 17 (CVOR) and 18 (DVOR) below
from this document.
CVOR (Figure 17)
(a)

Out to a distance of 65 meters (213 feet) from the

center of the VOR antenna, there should be no
obstacles with a he ight exceeding 1.2 meters (3.93
feet).

(b)

From 65 meters (213 feet) to a distance of 250 meters

(820 feet), there should be no metallic objects or
buildings with significant metal content. There
should be no groups of trees and any individual trees
must be less than 7 meters (23 feet) in height. Any
slope in the terrain must be less than 2.3%.

(c)

From 250 meters (820 feet) to a distance of 400

meters (1312 feet), any groups of trees must be less
than 10 meters (33 feet) in height and must subtend a
horizontal angle of less than 7 degrees with respect
to the VOR. Any power lines must be less than 5
meters (16 feet) in height and must be located on a
radial to the VOR. The power lines must subtend a
horizontal angle of le ss than 10 degrees with respect
to the VOR. Terrain slope must be less than 4%.

(d)

From 400 meters (1312 feet) to a distance of 600

meters (1968 feet), buildings must be less than 12
meters (39 feet) in height, metallic buildings must be
less than 6 meters (23 feet) in height and the terrain
slope must be less than 8%. Power lines must be less
than 9 meters (30 feet) in height.

In addition to the above requirements, any obstructions may not exceed the vertical
angles shown on the drawing.

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DVOR (Figure 18)

(a)

Out to a distance of 100 meters (328 feet) from the

center of the VOR antenna, there should be no obstacles with a height exceeding
7 meters (23 feet) and there should be no metallic objects. Any slope in the
terrain must be less than 2.3%.

(b)

From 100 meters (328 feet) to a distance of 200 meters (656 feet), any groups of
trees must be less than 10 meters (33 feet) in he ight and must subtend a horizontal
angle of less than 7 degrees with respect to the VOR. Any power lines must be
less than 5 meters (16 feet) in height and must be located on a radial to the VOR.
The power lines must subtend a horizontal angle of less than 10 degrees with
respect to the VOR. Terrain slope must be less than 4%.

(c)

From 200 meters (656 feet) to a distance of 300 meters (984 feet), buildings must
be less than 12 meters (39 feet) in height, metallic buildings must be less than 6
meters (23 feet) in height and the terrain slope must be less than 8%. Power lines
must be less than 9 meters (30 feet) in height.

In addition to the above requirements, any obstructions may not exceed the vertical
angles shown on the drawing.

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Figure 17 (EUROCAE). CVOR Siting Criteria

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Figure 18 (EUROCAE). DVOR Siting Criteria

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2.

From ICAO Annex 10, Paragraph 3.2 of Attachment C.

Para 3.2.1 - The site should be on the highest ground in the vicinity to obtain the greatest
line-of-site coverage and should be level or should slope away from the station at a
downgrade not exceeding 4% to a distance of 300 m (1000 feet) and preferably to 600 m
(2000 feet) from the station. The site contours should be circular with respect to the
antenna to a radius of at least 300 m (1000 feet). The site should be as far removed from
wire lines and fences as possible. The height of wire lines and fences should not subtend
a vertical angle of more than 1.5 degrees or extend more than 0.5 degree above the
horizontal as measured from the antenna array. These limits may be increased by 50 per
cent for fences or lines which are essentially radial to the antenna array or which subtend
a horizontal angle of no more than 10 degrees. Single trees of moderate size, up to 9 m
(30 ft) in height, may be tolerated beyond 150 m (500 ft). No groups of trees should
subtend a vertical angle greater than 2 degrees or should be within 300 m (1000 ft) of the
station. Provisions should be made for clearing trees to 600 m (2000 ft) if it should prove
necessary. No structures should subtend a vertical angle greater than 1.2 degrees or
should be within 150 m (500 ft) of the station. Wooden structures with negligible
metallic content and with little prospect of future metallic additions may subtend vertical
angles up to 2.5 degrees.
Para 3.2.2 - In mountainous terrain, a mountain-top site will often be preferable. The site
should be on the highest accessible hilltop or mountain, the top of which should be
graded flat to a radius of at least 45 m (150 ft). On such sites, the antenna system should
be installed approximately a half wavelength above ground level in the center of the
graded area and the transmitter building should be beyond the graded area, far enough
down the slope to be below optical line of site from the antenna array. No ground, trees,
power lines, buildings, etc. between 45 m (150 ft) and 360 m (1200 ft) should be within
optical line of sight of the antenna array.

3.

From the FAA VOR, VOR/DME and VORTAC Siting Criteria handbook Order
6820.2D, Paragraph 17(c)(3)
(a)

General. All obstructions within 1000 feet of the antenna are to be removed
except as noted below. Normal crop raising and grazing operations may be
permitted in this area, except at mountain top facilities where the antennas are 4feet high. In these instances, crop raising and grazing must be restricted to areas
below and off the counterpoise. No grazing should be permitted in the vicinity of
the monitor detectors.

(b)

Trees and Forests. Trees close to the VOR antenna can cause severe scalloping.
Single trees of moderate height (up to 30 feet) may be tolerated beyond 500 feet,
but no closer. No groups of trees should be within a 1000- foot radius or subtend a
vertical angle of more than 2 degrees. At mountain top sites, no trees within 1000
feet should be visible from the antenna array.

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(c)

Wire Fences. Ordinary farm- type wire fences about 4-feet high are not permitted
within 200 feet of the antenna; fences of the chain type (6 feet or more in height)
are not permitted within 500 feet of the antenna; beyond these distances no wire
fence should extend more than 0.5 degree above the horizontal, measured from
the antenna. These requirements may be relaxed for fences essentially radial to
the antenna. Since there is a large number of possible combinations of fence
height and orientation with the terrain configuration of various types, each of
which may produce a different effect, the foregoing must serve as a general guide
only. At mountain top sites, wire fences may be permitted within 200 feet of the
antenna, provided they do not extend above the line of sight from the top of the
antenna to the edge of the level area (that is, they are within the shadow area of
the ground counterpoise).

(d)

Power and Control Lines. Power and control line extensions should be installed
underground for a minimum distance of 600 feet from the antenna. Overhead
power and control lines may be installed beyond 600 feet but should be
essentially radial to the antenna for a minimum distance of 1200 feet. No
overhead conductors (including possible future construction), except for
extensions serving the site, should be permitted within 1200 feet of the antenna.
If a non-radial conductor is so oriented that it does not come within 1200 feet of
the antenna, but the perpendicular distance to the antenna from its imaginary
extension is less than 1200 feet, then the vertical angle subtended by the
uppermost conductor and/or the top of the pole (measured from the ground
elevation at the antenna site) should not exceed 1 degree; also no conductor
should extend above the horizontal plane of the antenna.
Other than the foregoing, there should be no lines or supporting structures so
located that they subtend a vertical angle (measured from the ground elevation at
the site) of greater than 1.5 degrees. In addition, no conductor should extend
more than 0.5 degree above the horizontal plane containing the antennas, unless
they are essentially radial (within 10 degrees) to the antenna array. At mountain
top sites, the conductors will be permitted within 1200 feet of the antenna,
provided they do not extend above the conical surface formed by the top of the
antenna and the edge of the leveled area.

(e)

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Structures. No structures should be permitted within 1000 feet of the antenna,

except for buildings such as the transmitter building at a mountain top site located
on a slope below the ground level of the antenna so that they are not visible from
the antenna. All structures that are partly or entirely metallic shall subtend
vertical angles of 1.2 degrees or less, measured from ground elevation at the
antenna site. Wooden structures with negligible metallic content and little
prospect of future metallic additions (such as roofs and wiring) may be tolerated if
subtending vertical angles of less than 2.5 degrees. However, at airports where a
single hangar or line of hangars, administrative buildings, etc., may have
considerable length, it is necessary to look upon such structures as producing
interference in the same manner (only more severe) as power and telephone lines,
and the criteria for power, control, and telephone lines will apply.

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4.

From the FAA AIRPORT DESIGN HANDBOOK, ADVISORY CIRCULAR

150/5300-13, Paragraph 604.
(a)

Location. If the airport has intersecting runways, TVORs should be located

adjacent to the intersection to provide approach guidance to both. TVORs should
be located at least 500 feet (150 m) from the centerline of any runway and 250
feet (75 m) from the centerline of any taxiway.

(b)

Clearances. TVOR signals are susceptible to distortion caused by reflections.

Structures should be at least 1,000 feet (300m) from the antenna. Metal structures
beyond 100 feet (300M) should not penetrate a 1.2 degree angle measured from
the antenna base. Nonmetal structures beyond 1000 feet (300m) should not
penetrate a 2.5 degree angle measured from the antenna base. Metal fences
should be at least 500 feet (150m) from the antenna and overhead power and
telephone lines at least 1200 feet (360m) from the antenna. While trees should be
at least 1000 feet (300m) from the antenna, a single tree may be tolerated if it is a
least 500 feet (150m) from the antenna.

(c)

Grading. TVOR sites should be level within 1000 feet (300m) of the antenna.
However a downward slope of as much as 4 percent is permitted between 200 feet
(60m) and 1000 feet (300m) of the antenna. Surfaces should be cleared and
smooth with no major irregularities.

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XIV.

REMOTE MONITORING AND CONTROL EQUIPMENT

1. Remote Receiver (Off-the-Air) Monitoring Requirements
a.

VOR [ ],

DME [ ],

None [ ]

b.

Receiver Location (Control Tower, FBO, Police Station, etc.)

c.

Describe the receiver location with respect to the VOR/DME facility:

Estimated Distance

ft/m/NM.

Direction
d.

Estimate the length of the cable run between the receiver and its antennas if over
50 ft:
ft/m.

2. Remote Status and Control Equipment

a.

RSCU [ ],

b.

RSCU Location (Control Tower Equipment Room, etc.)

c.

RSU Location (Control Tower Cab, etc.)

d.

Est. length of cable run from RSCU to RSU

e.

Describe the connection between the facility and the RSCU:

C/DVOR:

RSU [ ],

None [ ]

Dedicated Line [ ]

ft/m.

Radio Link [ ]

Distance _________________________
DME:

Dedicated Line [ ]

Radio Link [ ]

Distance _________________________
f.

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Describe any special Remote control requirements:

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3.

Remote Maintenance Monitoring Requirements

a.

C/DVOR [ ],

DME [ ],

None [ ]

b.

Remote Monitoring Location (Control Tower Equipment Room, Maintenance

Shop, etc.)

c.

Describe the connection between the facility and the RMM Location:

C/DVOR:

Dial- up Line [ ], Radio Link [ ]

DME:

Dial- up Line [ ], Radio Link [ ],

DME RMM through VOR [ ]

d.

4.

Describe any special RMM line requirements such as dedicated line, etc.:

Notes and Sketches (Remote Monitoring and Control Equipment)

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