What information can a pilot gain from a VORTAC?

What information can a pilot gain from a VORTAC?

• A. Location of the aircraft with reference to the station (Course Azimuth) and distance from the station (DME)
• B. Altitude and airspeed
• C. Time to station and wind direction
• D. Fuel remaining and engine temperature

Answer: (A)

VORTAC combines a VOR and TACAN to give two nav signals: the azimuth, or bearing, from the station, and the distance to the station via DME. The azimuth tells you which direction you’re from the station (your course or radial), and the DME readout shows how far away you are along that line. Together, these two pieces let you determine your position relative to the station and navigate along airways or to a fix by crossing radials or combining with other nav aids. In practice, if you’re on a specific VORTAC’s radial and the DME shows a certain distance, you know you’re that many nautical miles away on that bearing from the station. This is the information VORTAC provides—bearing and distance. It does not supply altitude, airspeed, time to station, wind direction, or fuel/engine data, which are obtained from other instruments and sources.

VORTAC combines a VOR and TACAN to give two nav signals: the azimuth, or bearing, from the station, and the distance to the station via DME. The azimuth tells you which direction you’re from the station (your course or radial), and the DME readout shows how far away you are along that line. Together, these two pieces let you determine your position relative to the station and navigate along airways or to a fix by crossing radials or combining with other nav aids.

In practice, if you’re on a specific VORTAC’s radial and the DME shows a certain distance, you know you’re that many nautical miles away on that bearing from the station. This is the information VORTAC provides—bearing and distance. It does not supply altitude, airspeed, time to station, wind direction, or fuel/engine data, which are obtained from other instruments and sources.