>>”from IFR Checkride Reviewer:

It’s summertime, and people are flying more. Operations are up, more avgas is being bought, and you can be sure ramp checks are on the rise. Don’t be caught arriving from an IFR flight without a current VOR check onboard.

You can update yourself in the AIM 1-1-6, and take a look at 91.171 which says:

Each person performing the check shall record the date, place, bearing error, and signature in an appropriate written log.

Permissible error:

* VOT 360 FR 180 TO, on airport, each VOR receiver ±4°
* VOR checkpoint, on airport, each VOR receiver ±4°
* Dual VOR check, ±4°
* Ground reference point (from A/FD) against VOR radial, ±6°

The A/FD has information about VOT and VOR checkpoints available at airports. Airports make great ground reference points, see the A/FD for exact locations (distance & radial) to perform the check. ”

I’m not sure about that last method, though.
Here’s the AIM on the subject (look at 1-1-4):
http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/Chap1/aim0101.html

I hope that’s more than you asked for.

Jim

- (dual VOR) either on the ground or in the air, if you have two VOR receivers, you can tune them both to the same VOR, center the needles (TO or FROM, but the same), and read the OBS ring on each one; they should agree within 4 degrees on the ground, 6 degrees in the air.

or, in the air above a known position on an airway, tune the receiver to the proper VOR, and it should agree with the published radial for the airway within 6 degrees

In any case, record the check in writing using the Date, Error, Position (where tested) , and your Signature and have that written material available for the flight. Many pilots or clubs keep a small notebook in a seat pocket and routinely make a test every few weeks, to keep within the regs.

Good luck.

Blue skies,
Jim

Wikipedia says – “General aviation (GA) is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights. The majority of the world’s air traffic falls into this category, and most of the world’s airports serve general aviation exclusively.”

Bruce;

The law seems reasonable as written: if you haven’t checked the VORs, you cant use them.

What seems unreasonable is being violated for not checking them simply because they are in the aircraft, irrespective of their use or not during IFR flight. In your friends case, he might have been able to be saved by pulling the ATC tapes and showing that he was either navigating via /g OR that he was cleared for GPS approach, which would have clearly demonstrated he wasn’t using the VOR equipment, and thus not in violation of the reg.