Airienteering with 13MIKE

by Fred J. Calfior and Douglas W. Miller

AirLeg 36

1) When abeam “CAL STATE UNIVERSITY”, turn towards “ST. MARY'S”

2) When crossing the OAK VOR “090” radial, turn to a heading of “270”

“How does that good 'ol VOR receiver work anyway? A VOR station transmits two very high frequency (VHF) signals. One is the reference phase signal, which is omni-directional, which means it is the same in all directions. The second is the variable phase signal, which rotates uniformly at a rate of 1800 rpm, with its phase varying at a constant rate throughout the 360 degrees. The antenna of your VOR airborne receiver picks up both the signals, and measures their phase difference! That tells you which radial you are on!”

3) According to the Federal Aviation Regulations manual, what does the abbreviation “MOCA” stand for?

If your answer is “Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude”,

go to AirLeg 91

If your answer is “Military Operations Control Area”,

go to AirLeg 115

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