Koopas wrote:
Hi all,

What is meant by reverse sensing?

Say I am southeast of the VOR station, and want to head straight to
that station in a northwest direction, at a heading of 300. I tune
and identify, and currently track the 300 radial (300 on the OBS),
with a "TO" indication, and the needle centered. If I wander to the
right of my course, the needle will swing to the left, so I'll turn a
few degrees to the left and rejoin the 300 radial.

First, am I tracking the 300 inbound radial or the 300 outbound
radial? What is the proper terminology?

You are tracking the 120 degree radial inbound. You don't have inbound or
outbound radials. You have radials, and you can be inbound or outbound on
one of them. You are on the 120 radial, not the 300 radial.


Second, what if, instead of heading 300, I was heading 120. In other
words, what if I was heading in the exact reciprocal direction with
the OBS still at 300 and a "TO" indication? I assert that the needle
would still be centered; however, how would someone know that he's
indeed headed TOWARDS the station and not away from it?

Because you'd have reverse sensing! Seriously, VORs have no idea which
way you're headed. Once you remember that, then things become easier. Now,
you are on the 120 radial headed AWAY from the VOR with 300 dialed in on the
OBS and you have a TO flag - because as far as the VOR receiver is
concerned, a 300 degree course would take you TO the VOR (remember, it
doesn't know which way you're going). Now, if you deviate to the right, the
needle will move to the RIGHT (reverse) because it thinks you're flying TO
the VOR and have deviated to the LEFT. That is reverse sensing. I don't
like the name cause it somehow implies the VOR is doing something
different - it isn't. It should be called "The pilot screwed up and dialed
in the wrong radial".

Hilton