VORTAC
Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Aviation
| Stands for | VOR combined with TACAN (tactical air navigation) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Transportation & Travel |
VORTAC stands for VOR combined with TACAN (tactical air navigation), an aviation abbreviation.
Navigation station that colocates a civil VOR with a military TACAN, giving civilian aircraft bearing information plus distance through the TACAN's DME function. VORTACs appear on US sectional charts as a hexagon with three rectangular tabs.
Example: Hold northeast of the VORTAC on the 045 radial, right turns, 10-mile legs.
Usage notes
TACAN was developed for military aircraft, which use it for both bearing and distance on UHF; civil aircraft use only its distance component. Many major US navigation stations are VORTACs or VOR/DMEs. Distance from any DME source is slant range, so an aircraft directly overhead at 6,000 feet reads about one nautical mile.
Related abbreviations
More aviation abbreviations
- V2 – Takeoff safety speed
- VASI – Visual approach slope indicator
- VFR – Visual flight rules
- VMC – Visual meteorological conditions
- Vne – Never-exceed speed
- VOR – VHF omnidirectional range
- VR – Rotation speed
- Vref – Reference landing speed
- VTOL – Vertical takeoff and landing
- Vx – Best angle of climb speed
- Vy – Best rate of climb speed
- WAAS – Wide Area Augmentation System