Definition
A VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) navigation station whose antenna is located somewhere other than on the airport itself, used as the primary navigation aid for an instrument approach to that airport. Because the station is not on the field, the final approach course is typically a radial from the VOR that is aligned to lead the aircraft toward the runway, and the missed approach point is determined by time or distance from the station rather than by station passage over the airport.
Plain English
A VOR ground station that sits somewhere away from the airport but is still used to fly the approach into that airport. The pilot tracks a course from the off-field station toward the runway instead of flying directly over the station to land.
Context Anchor
Seen when studying or briefing VOR instrument approaches, especially when the VOR used for the approach is not located on the airport property.
Derivation
“Off-airport” means away from the airport, not on it. “VOR” means very high frequency omnidirectional range; “omnidirectional” means it can provide navigation information in all directions from the station. “Facility” here means the installed ground equipment and site, not just a building.
Why Pilots Care
The distance between the facility and the airport affects timing, descent points, and missed-approach calculations.
Grounding Statement
Picture the VOR transmitter sitting in a field or on a hill near the airport, guiding the airplane toward the airport but not sitting at the runway itself.
Intuition Check
“Off-airport” does not mean the VOR is out of service or unrelated to the approach. It means the VOR facility is physically located away from the airport.
Example Sentence 1
Because the approach was based on an off-airport VOR facility, the pilot used the published timing from the final approach fix to identify the missed approach point.
Example Sentence 2
Because the VOR was off-airport, the crew used DME to determine the missed approach point rather than a fix on the field.