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2 Answers

Inbound/outbound

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Student Pilot

How is being inbound determined, for example im flying on a heading of 360 and bearing to station is also 360 (i.e im on 180 radial). So will it be called being "inbound 360" or "inbound 180"

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2 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Dec 15, 2017

    I must be misunderstanding your question.

    “Inbound” and “outbound” with reference to a VOR mean exactly the same thing as they do with reference to anything else. It’s just plain English: “inbound” is traveling toward someplace; “outbound” is traveling away from it.

    Rush hour traffic jams are generally “inbound” to the city in the morning and “outbound” from the city in the evening.

    Same with VORs. If your are heading 360 (or any other heading for that matter) and flying directly to a VOR, you are “inbound” to it. If you are heading 360 (or any other heading) and flying directly away from a VOR you are outbound.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Dec 15, 2017

    Wait. I think I might understand, but maybe not…

    im flying on a heading of 360 and bearing to station is also 360 (i.e im on 180 radial).

    So will it be called being “inbound 360” or “inbound 180”

    Neither. It is called being “inbound on the 180 degree radial” or on an “inbound course of 360 degrees”

    The radial does not change depending on whether or not you are inbound or outbound. Only your course to or from it does.

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