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2 Answers

VOR range vs DME range

Asked by: 3687 views , ,
Commercial Pilot, General Aviation, Instrument Rating

Hi,

Which of the two have a higher max range in general? I understand that DME measures slant range and is dependent on the height of the aircraft, and that VOR range depends on both the height of the station and height of the aircraft.  

If a VOR and a DME are co-located, would you receive distance information or radial information first?

Thanks!

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2 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Jun 21, 2017

    What difference would it make to your operation of the aircraft and your navigation if you received the DME signal first or the VOR signal first?

    Radio waves travel at the speed of light in a vacuum and just slightly slower through air. In theory, the radio waves for both signals should travel at the same speed. How would it affect your operation if they arrived at the same time?

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  2. Russ Roslewski on Jun 21, 2017

    Based on my experience this past Monday, the VOR signal was usable well before I got any DME indications.

    The VOR signal was weak but I got an ID and a valid course indication from maybe 70 or 80 miles out. For the DME, I didn’t get anything until maybe 60 miles out. This was at 6000 MSL and using an H-class VORTAC.

    Remember, though, that the DME equipment in the airplane also transmits a signal itself. So it’s probably not so much a question of the range of the ground-based transmitter, but more the one on the airplane, if I had to make a guess.

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