Which instrument indicates direction toward VORs and NDBs?

Which instrument indicates direction toward VORs and NDBs?

• A. RMI
• B. HSI
• C. DG
• D. HDI

Answer: (A)

When you need to know which way to fly to reach a radio navigation aid, you rely on a bearing indicator that points toward the station. The RMI provides exactly this: a rotating compass card with a bearing pointer that shows the magnetic bearing from your aircraft to the selected navigation aid, whether it’s a VOR or an NDB (ADF). You pick the active station, and the pointer tells you the direction you should fly to head toward that station, independent of your current heading. That direct bearing to the nav aid makes the RMI the most straightforward instrument for directing you toward VORs and NDBs. The Horizontal Situation Indicator can also assist with navigation to VORs by displaying a course to fly and showing deviations, but it’s oriented around the chosen course rather than giving the raw direction to the station itself. The directional gyro shows only your aircraft’s heading, not where the nav aids are. The HDI isn’t a standard instrument for this purpose. So, the RMI is the instrument that most directly indicates direction toward VORs and NDBs.

When you need to know which way to fly to reach a radio navigation aid, you rely on a bearing indicator that points toward the station. The RMI provides exactly this: a rotating compass card with a bearing pointer that shows the magnetic bearing from your aircraft to the selected navigation aid, whether it’s a VOR or an NDB (ADF). You pick the active station, and the pointer tells you the direction you should fly to head toward that station, independent of your current heading. That direct bearing to the nav aid makes the RMI the most straightforward instrument for directing you toward VORs and NDBs.

The Horizontal Situation Indicator can also assist with navigation to VORs by displaying a course to fly and showing deviations, but it’s oriented around the chosen course rather than giving the raw direction to the station itself. The directional gyro shows only your aircraft’s heading, not where the nav aids are. The HDI isn’t a standard instrument for this purpose. So, the RMI is the instrument that most directly indicates direction toward VORs and NDBs.