Which navigation aid provides direction and distance information to aircraft?

The VOR, or VHF Omnidirectional Range, is a ground-based navigation aid that provides aircraft with both directional and distance information. It transmits signals in all directions, allowing pilots to determine their bearing in relation to the station. By tuning into a VOR frequency, pilots can use the instrument in the cockpit to identify their position relative to the station, as well as navigate along established airways.

The VOR can also assist pilots in executing various navigation techniques, such as tracking a radial to maintain a specific course or determining their distance from the VOR through cross-referencing with another station or using DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) if available. This capability makes the VOR a widely used and essential tool for in-flight navigation.

While ADF (Automatic Direction Finder) and NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) also serve navigation purposes, they primarily provide only directional information without direct distance measurements. GPS, on the other hand, is a modern global navigation system that provides precise positioning and distance data, but it operates differently compared to traditional ground-based navigational aids. Unlike GPS, which relies on satellite signals, VOR stations are terrestrial and form a critical component of traditional navigation systems.