Definition
A VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) navigation transmitter located on the airport itself, which can serve as the final approach fix for a VOR instrument approach to that airport. When the VOR is on the airport, the approach is flown to the station rather than to a fix defined by a radial and distance from it.
Plain English
A VOR ground station that sits on the airport property. Because the station is right at the airport, flying to the station is the same as flying to the airport, so it can be used as the final point on the approach.
Context Anchor
Seen on VOR instrument approach procedures when the navigation station used for the approach is located on the airport itself.
Derivation
VOR comes from “very high frequency omnidirectional range.” “Omnidirectional” means the station sends usable direction information outward in all directions. “On-airport” tells you where that station is installed: at the airport the approach serves.
Why Pilots Care
Affects approach design, minimum altitudes, and the location of the missed approach point.
Intuition Check
Do not read “facility” as a passenger building or terminal. Here, “facility” means the installed navigation equipment. “On-airport” means located at the airport the procedure serves, not just somewhere in the same general area.
Example Sentence 1
Because this is an on-airport VOR facility, station passage marks the missed approach point, so we will start the missed approach climb the moment the TO/FROM indicator flips.
Example Sentence 2
Because the VOR was an on-airport facility, the final approach segment ended directly over the field.