Definition
An onboard area navigation system that uses signals from a VOR station, combined with distance information from a co-located DME, to allow the pilot to navigate directly to a chosen point in space (a 'waypoint') rather than only along a track to or from the VOR itself. The pilot enters the bearing and distance of the desired waypoint relative to the VOR/DME, and the system computes course guidance to that waypoint.
Plain English
A navigation system that lets the pilot create a custom point off to the side of a VOR station and fly directly to it, instead of being limited to flying straight to or from the VOR.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter flight manual limitations and instrument procedure discussions, especially when checking whether a helicopter is approved for a particular navigation method or approach.
Derivation
VOR comes from 'VHF Omnidirectional Range,' a ground-based radio beacon that broadcasts bearings in every direction. RNAV is short for 'area navigation' — meaning navigation across an area, not just along fixed airways. The combined name reflects that the system uses VOR signals to perform area navigation.
Why Pilots Care
Helicopter pilots must verify VOR/RNAV approval in the flight manual before using it in instrument conditions to remain within legal and aircraft limitations.
Intuition Check
Do not read VOR/RNAV as one single piece of equipment. It points to VOR navigation and RNAV navigation capability, and the helicopter’s manual tells you what is actually approved.
Example Sentence 1
The helicopter's flight manual limited VOR/RNAV use to en route navigation only, so the crew could not use it to fly the published approach.
Example Sentence 2
During the IFR flight the pilot switched to VOR/RNAV to fly a direct path to the destination heliport.