Jay Honeck wrote:

I agree 100% that a pilot should learn to use EVERYTHING in the panel.
But does this specialized knowledge need to be tested on the Private
written
exam? Are there questions about using audio panels on the Private
written?
Intercoms? Auto pilots?

If APs or Audio Panels were sufficiently standard, they might appear. VORs
are sufficiently standard.

The idea is to save expense and time, I'd think. Testing on a written is
cheaper for everyone involved than testing in the air (ie. a checkride).

[...]
I would contend that in the year 2005 navigation via VORs rests squarely
in the "optional knowledge" category, and should not be on the Private
written.

Even when victor airways were "the" way to navigate, plenty still got by
with eyes, maps, and clocks. So, in theory, VORs have *always* been
optional. Apparently, that's not sufficient to keep them off.

- Andrew