Hello,First: I

You know, I've been doing this for 25yr now and never thought to ask the guestion. Just never thought of it. Goes to show, never too old to learn.>>what is the difference between a normal VOR and a VOR-a and VOR-bapproach?<>...in tutorial four a VOR approach without specific runway is used. Is this just a safe way to approach the airport and should I then join the pattern for the runway in use?<

From Rod Machado's instrument Pilot's survival manual:Runway numbers as part of the approach name indicate that the final approach course meets ALL of 3 major tests: it is aligned to within 30 degrees of the runway direction, has an acceptable descent angle and comes sufficiently close to the runway threshold or extended runway centerline. This is a straight -in approach and lists straight-in landing minimums. If the approach in question has letter instead of a runway number for a name, it means that some or all of the critical criteria for a straight -in were not met. This is an approach to an airport rather than a specific runway, and it has circle-to land minimums.http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

Thanks for the info! Guess the difference in VOR, VOR-a and VOR-b are not that important then ;-)Kind regards,Huppel