Definition
A ground-based navigation facility that combines a VOR transmitter, which provides magnetic bearing information from the station, with a DME transmitter, which provides slant-range distance information to the station. Together they allow an appropriately equipped aircraft to determine its position as a bearing and distance from a single point on the ground.
Plain English
A ground station that tells your aircraft two things at once: which direction you are from the station, and how far away you are. With both pieces of information, you know exactly where you are relative to that station.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument charts, navigation receiver displays, and procedures that require both VOR guidance and DME distance.
Derivation
VOR comes from “very high frequency omnidirectional range,” meaning a radio system that sends direction information in all directions around the station. DME means “distance measuring equipment,” meaning equipment that measures distance to the station. Together, the name tells you the facility provides both direction and distance.
Why Pilots Care
Supplies precise azimuth and distance data needed to track airways, identify fixes, and execute instrument approaches without relying solely on GPS.
Intuition Check
The distance from a DME is slant range, not ground distance. Directly overhead the station at altitude, DME will read your height above it, not zero.
Example Sentence 1
Cleared direct to the VOR/DME, the pilot tuned the frequency and confirmed both the bearing and the distance readout were valid before turning on course.
Example Sentence 2
Distance readouts from the VOR/DME allowed the crew to time the start of the descent on the approach.