PLT507: VOR Course Deviation
What code PLT507 covers, why the FAA tests it, and how to study VOR Course Deviation before your checkride.
Recall VOR - indications / VOR / VOT / CDI
What this means for your checkride
With a VOR, the pilot selects a course on the OBS and the course deviation indicator (CDI) shows displacement left or right of that course. A TO/FROM indicator shows whether the selected course would take the aircraft to or from the station. The needle indicates position relative to the course, not aircraft heading.
Correct interpretation of CDI deflection and TO/FROM sense is essential for VOR navigation and is a common test area.
The CDI shows the aircraft's position relative to the selected radial and is independent of aircraft heading; a wrong OBS setting misleads the pilot.
Where to study it
A code on your test report is an area of deficiency. An authorized instructor must review it with you and endorse that review before you take the practical test, and the examiner may revisit it during the oral. Study it until you can explain it out loud, not just recognize the answer.