Reverse sensing refers to the VOR needle appearing to indicate the reverse of normal operation. Which statement best describes this condition?

• A. The VOR needle indicating the station in the reverse direction
• B. The VOR needle pointing to the aircraft heading
• C. The VOR needle remaining stationary
• D. The VOR needle oscillating rapidly

Answer: (A)

Reverse sensing happens when the VOR CDI seems to point you in the opposite direction from where the station actually lies. The VOR provides a directional cue with a deviation indicator and a TO/FROM flag, and pilots must read the sense correctly—whether the signal is guiding you toward or away from the station. When you misread that sense, the needle appears to indicate the station in the reverse direction, which is exactly what reverse sensing describes. The best description is that the VOR needle is indicating the station in the reverse direction. The other patterns don’t fit this concept: a needle pointing toward your heading isn’t how VOR guidance is interpreted; a stationary needle usually means a reliable signal with zero deviation or a malfunction, and rapid oscillation points to signal issues rather than a reversed sense of direction.