KARACHI:
Pakistan Airports Authority (PPA) has successfully completed the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Doppler VHF Omnidirectional Ranging and Distance Measurement (DVOR/DME) equipment at Dera Ismail Khan Airport.
The DVOR/DME is a ground radio navigation aid used in aviation. It helps planes determine where they are and how far they are from a known point.
According to a PAA spokesperson, the project was launched in 2024 to replace the existing conventional VOR (CVOR) with an advanced navigation system, aimed at improving precise air navigation, operational capability and overall air safety.
Thanks to the professional expertise and tireless efforts of the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) team, the project was successfully completed.
The flight inspection and calibration process of the newly installed DVOR/DME continued for the past two days and has now been successfully completed. Following successful calibration, the system was formally commissioned and placed into operational service.
The commissioning of the DVOR/DME at Dera Ismail Khan Airport reflects PAA’s commitment to modernize aviation infrastructure and ensure safe and efficient air operations in line with international standards, he said.
The DVOR (Doppler VHF Omnidirectional Range) tells the aircraft its heading (direction) from the station and uses very high frequency (VHF) radio signals. It uses the Doppler effect to improve signal accuracy and resistance to reflections.
On the other hand, DME (distance measuring equipment) tells an aircraft the slant range distance to the station and works by timing radio signal exchanges between the aircraft and the ground station.
