What is VOR as used in aviation navigation?

• A. Electronic navigation equipment in which the flight deck instrument identifies the radial or line from the VOR station, measured in degrees clockwise from magnetic north, along which the aircraft is located.
• B. The central cavity of the inner ear.
• C. The maximum speed with the flaps extended.
• D. A visual aid that provides descent guidance on approach.

Answer: (A)

VOR is VHF Omnidirectional Range, a ground-based radio navigation aid that helps you determine your bearing relative to a VOR station. It works by emitting signals that let your VOR receiver identify a magnetic bearing from the station to your aircraft—the radial. This radial is expressed in degrees clockwise from magnetic north, so when you’re on a specific radial you’re located along that line extending from the station. By selecting a course on your OBS, you can fly to or from the station (or hold on a published radial) using that bearing.

This concept is different from the other options: the inner ear’s central cavity relates to balance, not navigation; maximum speed with flaps extended is a performance limit (VFE); and a visual descent aid that provides descent guidance on approach describes another type of instrument or cue, not VOR.