Definition
A combined ground-based navigation facility that provides both bearing information (from the VOR component, which transmits in the very high frequency band) and slant-range distance information (from the DME component). When tuned by an aircraft receiver, the station gives the pilot a direction to or from the station and the distance to it, producing a continuous fix without reference to any other aid.
Plain English
A single ground station that tells the pilot two things at once: which direction the aircraft is from the station, and how far away it is.
Context Anchor
Seen on aviation charts, navigation radio settings, route descriptions, and published instrument flying procedures where both direction and distance from a station are needed.
Derivation
VHF refers to the very high frequency radio band used by the VOR signal. 'Omnidirectional range' means the station transmits usable bearing information in every direction around it. DME adds a separate signal pair that measures the time for a pulse to travel to the station and back, which the receiver converts into distance.
Why Pilots Care
Supplies reliable navigation data without satellites and supports many published instrument procedures and position fixes.
Grounding Statement
When the aircraft is receiving a usable VOR/DME signal, the cockpit equipment can show both direction information and distance from the same navigation station.
Intuition Check
Do not read range here as the airplane’s fuel range or how far it can fly. In VOR, range means a radio navigation aid, and DME distance is straight-line distance to the station, not always the exact distance across the ground.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot tuned the VOR/DME and confirmed the aircraft was on the 270 radial at 15 miles from the station.
Example Sentence 2
ATC cleared the flight to hold on the VOR/DME arc at fifteen miles.