What is DME?
DME is an abbreviation for Distance Measuring Equipment, a simple but extremely valuable navigational aid that tells us the distance in Nautical miles from the selected station.
A few facts about DME:
1. DME signals come from VOR stations showing the inclusion of DME (VOR/DME), and from
standalone DME stations.
2. Information for the DME-1 gauge comes from the Nav-1 radio; likewise, if the aircraft is
equipped with dual Nav radios, Nav-2 provides information for the DME-2 gauge.
4. DME signals are non-directional, and have no effect on VOR; don't expect the VOR needle to
swing if you've tuned just a DME station.
3. As with any LF or VHF radio system, DME signals are also line-of-sight communications and are
subject to the same physical limitations from obstructions, noise, etc.
