Definition
A ground-based navigation facility that combines a VOR (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range) station and the distance-measuring portion of a TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation) station at a single site. Civil aircraft use the VOR component to determine bearing from the station and the TACAN's DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) component to determine slant-range distance. Military aircraft use the full TACAN signal for both bearing and distance.
Plain English
A single ground station that gives pilots two pieces of information: which direction they are from the station, and how far away they are. It serves both civilian and military aircraft from the same location.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument charts and in preferred instrument flight rules route descriptions, where a VORTAC may be used as a named point that helps define the route.
Derivation
The name is built from two systems combined at one site: VOR (the civilian bearing system) and TACAN (the military bearing and distance system). 'Tactical Air Navigation' originally referred to a military system designed for shorter-range, more precise navigation than the longer-range systems of the time. Combining them into a VORTAC let one ground installation serve both civilian and military aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Provides reliable course guidance and distance information for instrument navigation along established routes without depending on satellite signals.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a VORTAC is only for military aircraft because it includes TACAN. Civil pilots commonly use the VOR guidance and distance information available from the same site.
Example Sentence 1
The airway begins at the BOILE VORTAC and continues northeast along V-44.
Example Sentence 2
VORTAC stations supply both radial and DME readouts that confirm the aircraft position during the enroute phase.