Definition
Painted signs located on an airport surface at a designated ground checkpoint where a pilot can taxi the aircraft, tune the VOR receiver to a specified VOR station, and verify that the received bearing and station identification are within allowable tolerance, confirming that the VOR receiver is operating accurately enough for IFR navigation.
Plain English
A sign on the airport that marks a specific spot where you can park, tune your VOR radio to a nearby VOR station, and check that your VOR is reading correctly before flying on instruments.
Context Anchor
Seen on the airport surface near a published VOR receiver checkpoint, often before an instrument flight when the pilot needs to verify VOR accuracy.
Derivation
VOR stands for very high frequency omnidirectional range. “Checkpoint” means a known place used for comparison. Together, the term points to a sign marking a known spot where the VOR reading can be checked.
Why Pilots Care
Allows pilots to confirm VOR accuracy within required tolerances before departure or during instrument flight, preventing navigation errors that could compromise safety or regulatory compliance.
Grounding Statement
At the checkpoint, the aircraft is sitting at a known location, so the VOR indication in the cockpit should match the published checkpoint value within the allowed error.
Intuition Check
Do not treat VOR Checkpoint Signs as taxi directions or clearance signs. They are reference signs for checking a navigation instrument, not instructions telling you where you are cleared to go.
Example Sentence 1
Before the IFR departure, the pilot taxied to the VOR checkpoint sign, tuned the local VOR, and confirmed the receiver was within the four-degree tolerance.
Example Sentence 2
Before filing an IFR flight plan, she used the VOR checkpoint sign to verify both the indicated bearing and the distance readout matched the published values.