Learn VOR navigation in MSFS 2020: tune NAV1, select the correct CDI source, read TO/FROM, intercept radials and fix common problems.
To use VOR navigation in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, tune the station into NAV1, verify its Morse identifier, select VLOC or VOR rather than GPS as the CDI source, set the desired course with the OBS or CRS knob, then intercept and centre the CDI while checking the TO/FROM indication.
What do I need before using a VOR?
Choose an aircraft fitted with a NAV receiver and a VOR indicator, CDI or HSI. Traditional general-aviation cockpits make the process easiest to learn; glass cockpits perform the same job but require the correct CDI source to be selected.
You also need the station's frequency and the radial or inbound course you intend to fly. You can prepare a radio-navigation route using our guide to setting up VOR-to-VOR routes in the MSFS World Map.
VOR reception is essentially line-of-sight. Terrain, low altitude and excessive distance can prevent a usable signal, so a frequency alone does not guarantee that the needle will respond.
How do I tune and track a VOR in MSFS 2020?
- Tune the frequency into NAV1. Enter it in the NAV standby window and swap it into the active position. A common mistake is leaving the correct frequency in standby.
- Identify the station. Enable NAV1 monitoring on the audio panel and listen for the Morse-code identifier. Some avionics also display the decoded identifier. Do not track a station until it is being received correctly.
- Select the radio-navigation source. Change the CDI from GPS to VLOC, VOR1 or LOC1, depending on the avionics. On a conventional panel, confirm that the indicator you are watching is connected to NAV1 rather than NAV2. For GPS-equipped aircraft, our GNS 530 source-selection walkthrough explains the GPS-to-VLOC change.
- Set the course. Rotate the OBS or CRS knob to the required inbound course or outbound radial. Check the TO/FROM flag before interpreting the needle.
- Intercept the course. Turn towards the CDI needle using an intercept angle of roughly 20 to 30 degrees. As the needle approaches the centre, turn onto the selected course.
- Correct for wind. Make small heading changes towards the needle. If it drifts left, apply a few degrees of correction to the left; if it drifts right, correct right. Avoid chasing the needle with large turns.
What do TO, FROM and VOR radials mean?
A VOR radial is always named by the magnetic direction extending from the station. The 270 radial lies west of the VOR, but an aircraft tracking that radial towards the station flies approximately 090 degrees.
| Objective | Course to select | Expected indication |
|---|---|---|
| Fly towards the station while west of it on the 270 radial | 090 | TO |
| Fly west away from the station on the 270 radial | 270 | FROM |
| Cross the station and continue east | 090 | TO before passage, FROM afterwards |
The TO/FROM flag does not tell you which way to turn. It shows whether the selected course would take you towards or away from the station. If the CDI behaves backwards, check that you have selected the reciprocal course appropriate to the required TO or FROM operation.
Can the autopilot track a VOR?
Yes. First select VOR1 or VLOC as the CDI source, set the required course, and use heading mode to establish a sensible intercept. Arm NAV mode as the CDI begins moving towards the centre.
The autopilot cannot follow NAV1 while the CDI is still sourced from GPS. It may also fail to capture if you approach the course at a steep angle or arm NAV while too far from the selected course.
What happens when I pass over the station?
Near station passage, the CDI may swing rapidly and the TO/FROM indication may disappear briefly or change to FROM. Hold the established heading rather than chasing the needle; once clear of the cone of confusion, the indication should settle.
If the station includes DME, the displayed distance is slant range to the radio facility, not necessarily distance to the airport or runway. Not every VOR has DME. Once basic tracking is comfortable, the next step is learning how to fly a published VOR/DME approach with fixes and altitude restrictions.
Why is the VOR needle not working in MSFS 2020?
| Symptom | Likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| CDI remains parked with a NAV warning flag | Check avionics power, active frequency, reception range, altitude and terrain obstruction. |
| Station identifier appears but the CDI does not react | Select VOR1 or VLOC instead of GPS, or confirm that the indicator is connected to the receiver you tuned. |
| No Morse identifier is audible | Enable NAV1 monitoring on the audio panel and check the NAV volume. |
| Needle movement appears reversed | Confirm the selected course and TO/FROM indication. You may be tracking the reciprocal course with reverse sensing. |
| Autopilot ignores the VOR | Select the radio source, establish an intercept in heading mode and then arm NAV. |
| A charted station cannot be received | The station may be outside reception range, decommissioned or different in the simulator's installed navigation data. |
For failures that persist after these checks, use our detailed troubleshooting sequence for an unresponsive MSFS VOR.