Aviation Morse Code: How VOR Beacons Identify Themselves
Every VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) navigation beacon broadcasts a 3-letter Morse code identifier so pilots can confirm they’re tuned to the correct station before trusting its bearing.
How It Works
- Each VOR station has a unique 3-letter identifier (e.g. a beacon near Boston might use BOS).
- The identifier is transmitted in Morse at roughly 7 words per minute — slow enough to copy by ear without training.
- It repeats every 7-10 seconds, interleaved with (or instead of) a recorded voice identification on modern equipment.
- Pilots cross-check the Morse ID against their chart before relying on the VOR’s course guidance — this catches wrong-frequency tuning or equipment faults.
Try Decoding a VOR Identifier
Paste any 3-letter identifier into the TypeMorse translator to hear it exactly as it sounds over the aviation band, or use the table below for common single letters used in identifiers.
| Letter | Morse |
|---|---|
| B | -… |
| O | — |
| S | … |
Other Places Morse Still Flies
- NDBs (Non-Directional Beacons) — identify with a 2-3 letter Morse code, similar to VOR.
- ILS localizers — some transmit a 3-letter identifier ending in a fixed suffix pattern.
- Airport approach charts — list each beacon’s Morse identifier next to its frequency for pilot reference.
Want the full alphabet? See the complete Morse code alphabet chart, or head back to the Morse code translator to convert any identifier or message.