Definition
The pilot-operated control on a VOR indicator used to choose which course (radial) to or from a VOR station the instrument will display guidance for. Rotating it changes the selected course, which then drives the course deviation indicator (CDI) and the TO/FROM flag.
Plain English
It is the knob on a VOR display that lets the pilot pick which course line, measured outward from the station, the instrument should track and show.
Context Anchor
Seen on or near VOR checkpoint signs, where the sign tells the pilot what VOR frequency to use and what bearing to set on the cockpit indicator.
Derivation
From 'omni' (Latin omnis, meaning all) and 'bearing' (a direction measured from a reference). Together, 'omnibearing' means any one of all possible directions from the station — and the 'select' knob lets the pilot choose which one to fly.
Why Pilots Care
It lets the pilot align the navigation display with the exact course needed for accurate tracking and approaches.
Intuition Check
Do not read “select” here as choosing the radio station. The station is chosen by tuning the frequency; the omnibearing select is the course or bearing you dial into the VOR indicator.
Example Sentence 1
At the VOR checkpoint sign, the pilot turned the omnibearing select until the needle centered, then compared the displayed course with the published checkpoint bearing.
Example Sentence 2
With the omnibearing select set to the published approach course, the CDI centered as the aircraft reached the final approach segment.