FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Navigation and AirspaceMedium
While tracking inbound to a VOR, a pilot sets the OBS to 270° and the CDI centers with a 'TO' indication. Which radial is the aircraft currently positioned on?
- A180° radial
- B360° radial
- C270° radial
- D090° radial
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. 090° radial
A centered 'TO' indication means the selected course (270°) will take the aircraft to the station, so the aircraft is located on the reciprocal radial, 090°. The radial from the station is always the reciprocal of the centered TO course.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 180° does not relate mathematically to 270° as a reciprocal.
- B. 360° is not the reciprocal of 270°.
- C. 270° is the course flown TO the station, not the radial the aircraft occupies.
VOR TO/FROM Indication
A centered CDI with a TO flag means flying the selected course leads to the station; the aircraft's actual radial is the reciprocal of that course.
- Radial = reciprocal of centered TO course.
- FROM indication means the selected course matches the current radial.
- Radials always radiate outward from the station.
Memory trick: 'TO means turn it around' — flip 180° to find your radial.