Nav Aids

NAVIGATIONAL AIDS

Navigational aids are electronic devices that transmit radio frequencies which pilots of properly equipped aircraft translate into point-to-point guidance and position information. The types of electronic navigational aids available for aircraft flying to or from Chino Airport include the very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) facility, nondirectional beacon (NDB), global positioning system (GPS), and Loran-C. The VOR, in general, provides azimuth readings to pilots of properly equipped aircraft by transmitting a radio signal at every degree to provide 360 individual navigational courses. Frequently, distance measuring equipment (DME) is combined with a VOR facility to provide distance as well as direction information to the pilot. Military tactical air navigation aids (TACANs) and civil VORs are commonly combined to form a VORTAC. A VORTAC provides distance and direction information to civil and military pilots. The Paradise VORTAC (located approximately seven nautical miles southeast) and Pomona VORTAC (located approximately 10 nautical miles northwest) can be used by pilot s when navigating to or from Chino Airport. The NDB transmits nondirectional radio signals whereby the pilot of properly equipped aircraft can determine the bearing to or from the NDB facility and t hen “home” or track to or from the station. Pilot s flying t o or from the airport can utilize the Petis NDB located approximately 15 nautical miles northeast of the airport. Loran-C is a groundbased enroute navigational aid which utilizes a system of transmitters located in various locations across the continental United States. Loran-C varies from the VOR as pilot s are not required to navigate using a specific facility (with the VOR, pilot s must navigate to and from a specific VOR facility). With a properly equipped aircraft, pilot scan navigate to any airport in the United States using Loran-C. GPS is an additional navigational aid for pilots enroute to the airport. GPS was initially developed by the United States Department of Defense for military navigation around the world. Increasingly, GPS has been utilized more in civilian aircraft. GPS uses satellites placed in orbit around the globe to transmit electronic signals which pilots of properly equipped aircraft use to determine altitude, speed, and navigational information. Similar to Loran-C, pilots do not have to fly from one navigational aid to the next. This provides more freedom in flight planning and allows for more direct routing to the final destination. The FAA is proceeding with a program to gradually replace all traditional enroute navigational aids with GPS over the next 20 years.