Definition
The set of radio receivers in an aircraft used to determine position, track a course, or fly an approach by receiving signals from ground-based or satellite-based navigation aids. Common examples include VOR, ILS, ADF, DME, and GPS receivers.
Plain English
The radios in the cockpit that help the pilot figure out where the aircraft is and follow a chosen path through the sky.
Context Anchor
Seen during instrument flight planning, cockpit setup, route tracking, and approach preparation when the pilot tunes and checks the radios needed for navigation.
Derivation
‘Navigation’ comes from the Latin navigare, meaning ‘to sail or steer a ship.’ The term carried over to aviation, where ‘navigation radios’ are simply the radio equipment used to steer the aircraft along a known path.
Why Pilots Care
They supply the electronic course and position data required to fly published instrument procedures safely in clouds or low visibility.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “radios” means only voice communication. In this context, navigation radios are for electronic direction and position guidance, not for talking.
Example Sentence 1
Before departure, the pilot tuned the navigation radios to the first VOR on the route and verified the station identifier.
Example Sentence 2
During the en route phase the navigation radios were set to the VOR to maintain the assigned airway.