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What do you all know about VOR/DME Approaches? I tried shooting it Rwy 9 at St. Maarten, but it doens't line me up with the centerline, just directs me to the on-field VOR. I know its not a precision approach, so I need to control the altitude, but shouldn't an approach line you up on the centerline? What am I doing wrong and what is the proper way of doing it?

Are you sure you have the ILS frequency plugged in?


Or are you saying the ATC is giving you the approach vectors and they're not lining you up correctly?

There is no ILS approach. Just a VOR/DME. I plug the frequency into the Nav radio, but it directs me right of centerline to the VOR, rather than lined up with the runway.

Afaik that's just normal since a VOR doesn't sit right on the runway, it's slightly left or right to it and since a normal VOR (not a DVOR) has some 2.5

[quote]Afaik that's just normal since a VOR doesn't sit right on the runway, it's slightly left or right to it and since a normal VOR (not a DVOR) has some 2.5

Your minumums for that approach are probably an altitude and dme distance.

What do you all know about VOR/DME Approaches? I tried shooting it Rwy 9 at St. Maarten, but it doens't line me up with the centerline, just directs me to the on-field VOR. I know its not a precision approach, so I need to control the altitude, but shouldn't an approach line you up on the centerline? What am I doing wrong and what is the proper way of doing it?

You have to read and understand the approach chart. The chart I looked at for the VOR Approach to 09 states that the approach course is offset 3 degrees from the runway. Also, VOR approaches essentially take you TO the navaid and then you follow the prescribed course in the chart which will , IN A NO WIND SITUATION, line you up close enough so that when you break minimum you sheould see and be able to reach the runway.

If there is a wind you have to adjust accordingly or you may not even be close to the runway.

VOR/DME approaches are called non precision approaches for a reason.

if you've never used it - try this site:

http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/index.htm

Vic