Definition
A flight director and autopilot operating mode that commands the aircraft to capture and track a selected VOR radial or a localizer course. When engaged, the flight director computes lateral steering commands based on deviation from the tuned navigation signal and displays them on the attitude indicator, allowing the pilot (or coupled autopilot) to fly the course precisely.
Plain English
A setting on the flight director that tells it to follow either a VOR radial or a localizer beam. Once armed and captured, it shows the pilot exactly how to steer to stay on that course.
Context Anchor
Seen on a flight director or autopilot mode panel during VOR navigation or when setting up to follow a localizer on an instrument approach.
Derivation
VOR stands for VHF Omnidirectional Range, a ground-based navigation aid. LOC is short for localizer, the lateral guidance signal of an ILS approach. Combining them in one mode reflects that both signals are tracked using the same lateral steering logic in the flight director.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces pilot workload by automatically maintaining the desired course without constant manual corrections.
Intuition Check
VOR/LOC mode does not mean the airplane is following both a VOR and a localizer at the same time. It means the same lateral guidance mode can follow either one, depending on what navigation source is selected.
Example Sentence 1
After intercepting the inbound radial, the pilot engaged VOR/LOC mode so the flight director would track the course automatically.
Example Sentence 2
With VOR/LOC mode selected, the flight director provided bank commands to stay on the chosen radial.