What does VORTAC combine?

What does VORTAC combine?

• A. DME and GPS
• B. GPS and VOR
• C. VOR and DME
• D. VOR and ILS

Answer: (C)

VORTAC combines a VOR beacon with DME to provide both bearing and distance from the station. The VOR portion gives azimuth information, showing you which radial you’re on relative to the station. The DME portion measures how far you are from the station by calculating the travel time of signals between the aircraft and the ground transponder. Together, you can determine your position along a known radial (and, with more than one VORTAC, fix your exact location). GPS and ILS are separate systems; GPS is satellite-based positioning, and ILS is an approach system with localizer and glide slope, not part of VORTAC. So the combination you rely on is VOR plus DME.

VORTAC combines a VOR beacon with DME to provide both bearing and distance from the station. The VOR portion gives azimuth information, showing you which radial you’re on relative to the station. The DME portion measures how far you are from the station by calculating the travel time of signals between the aircraft and the ground transponder. Together, you can determine your position along a known radial (and, with more than one VORTAC, fix your exact location). GPS and ILS are separate systems; GPS is satellite-based positioning, and ILS is an approach system with localizer and glide slope, not part of VORTAC. So the combination you rely on is VOR plus DME.