Definition
A form of area navigation that uses signals from a VOR station (which provides bearing) combined with a co-located DME station (which provides distance) to let the aircraft navigate directly between any two points within reception range, rather than being restricted to flying directly to or from the ground station. The aircraft's RNAV computer uses the VOR bearing and DME distance to calculate the position of a pilot-defined waypoint and then provides course guidance to that waypoint.
Plain English
A navigation method that lets the pilot create a waypoint anywhere within range of a VOR/DME station and fly straight to it, instead of having to fly only directly to or from the station itself.
Context Anchor
Seen on some instrument procedures and in approach profile views where the procedure is based on VOR and DME signals rather than GPS.
Derivation
RNAV stands for 'area navigation' — meaning navigation across an area, not just along fixed lines between stations. VOR/DME identifies the two ground signals the system relies on: VOR for direction, DME for distance. Combining bearing and distance lets the computer 'place' a waypoint anywhere on the map.
Why Pilots Care
Enables more direct routing and access to approach procedures that do not align with a traditional ground station.
Grounding Statement
Picture the aircraft using one ground station to know both which direction it is from the station and how far away it is, then turning that information into a usable route or point.
Intuition Check
VOR/DME RNAV is not the same thing as GPS RNAV. The name tells you that this navigation depends on VOR and DME signals, not satellite position alone.
Example Sentence 1
The approach was based on VOR/DME RNAV, so the pilot programmed the waypoint defined by a radial and distance from the nearby VOR/DME station.
Example Sentence 2
With VOR/DME RNAV available, the aircraft could hold at a fix defined by a specific radial and distance from the VOR.