1-1-6. VHF Omni-directional
Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC)

automatically, while aircraft equipped with VOR
must have a separate DME airborne unit.

a. A VORTAC is a facility consisting of two
components, VOR and TACAN, which provides
three individual services: VOR azimuth, TACAN
azimuth and TACAN distance (DME) at one site.
Although consisting of more than one component,
incorporating more than one operating frequency,
and using more than one antenna system, a VORTAC
is considered to be a unified navigational aid. Both
components of a VORTAC are envisioned as
operating simultaneously and providing the three
services at all times.

d. VOR/DME, VORTAC, Instrument Landing
System (ILS)/DME, and localizer (LOC)/DME
navigation facilities established by the FAA provide
course and distance information from collocated
components under a frequency pairing plan. Aircraft
receiving equipment which provides for automatic
DME selection assures reception of azimuth and
distance information from a common source when
designated VOR/DME, VORTAC, ILS/DME, and
LOC/DME are selected.

b. Transmitted signals of VOR and TACAN are
each identified by three-letter code transmission and
are interlocked so that pilots using VOR azimuth with
TACAN distance can be assured that both signals
being received are definitely from the same ground
station. The frequency channels of the VOR and the
TACAN at each VORTAC facility are "paired" in
accordance with a national plan to simplify airborne
operation.
1-1-7. Distance Measuring Equipment
(DME)
a. In the operation of DME, paired pulses at a
specific spacing are sent out from the aircraft (this is
the interrogation) and are received at the ground
station. The ground station (transponder) then
transmits paired pulses back to the aircraft at the same
pulse spacing but on a different frequency. The time
required for the round trip of this signal exchange is
measured in the airborne DME unit and is translated
into distance (nautical miles) from the aircraft to the
ground station.
b. Operating on the line-of-sight principle, DME
furnishes distance information with a very high
degree of accuracy. Reliable signals may be received
at distances up to 199 NM at line-of-sight altitude
with an accuracy of better than 1/2 mile or 3 percent
of the distance, whichever is greater. Distance
information received from DME equipment is
SLANT RANGE distance and not actual horizontal
distance.
c. Operating frequency range of a DME according
to ICAO Annex 10 is from 960 MHz to 1215 MHz.
Aircraft equipped with TACAN equipment will
receive distance information from a VORTAC

Navigation Aids

e. Due to the limited number of available
frequencies, assignment of paired frequencies is
required for certain military noncollocated VOR and
TACAN facilities which serve the same area but
which may be separated by distances up to a few
miles.
f. VOR/DME, VORTAC, ILS/DME, and LOC/
DME facilities are identified by synchronized
identifications which are transmitted on a time share
basis. The VOR or localizer portion of the facility is
identified by a coded tone modulated at 1020 Hz or
a combination of code and voice. The TACAN or
DME is identified by a coded tone modulated at
1350 Hz. The DME or TACAN coded identification
is transmitted one time for each three or four times
that the VOR or localizer coded identification is
transmitted. When either the VOR or the DME is
inoperative, it is important to recognize which
identifier is retained for the operative facility. A
single coded identification with a repetition interval
of approximately 30 seconds indicates that the DME
is operative.
g. Aircraft equipment which provides for automatic DME selection assures reception of azimuth
and distance information from a common source
when designated VOR/DME, VORTAC and ILS/
DME navigation facilities are selected. Pilots are
cautioned to disregard any distance displays from
automatically selected DME equipment when VOR
or ILS facilities, which do not have the DME feature
installed, are being used for position determination.
1-1-8. NAVAID Service Volumes
a. The FAA publishes Standard Service Volumes
(SSVs) for most NAVAIDs. The SSV is a
three-dimensional volume within which the FAA
ensures that a signal can be received with adequate

1-1-5