On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 18:58:38 GMT, "Bruce W.1" wrote in
: :

Larry Dighera wrote:

You'd be surprised at how little the distance increases on a VOR route
compared to a direct route.


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You're probably right about the distance. But doesn't everbody flying
TO/FROM VOR stations cause air traffic problems like near misses
(collisions)?

Congested airways near VORs can be an issue. But the designers of the
VOR airway system had enough insight to separate east and west bound
VFR traffic by 1,000' vertically, and IFR traffic from VFR traffic by
500'. But airways, being only 4 nautical miles wide either side of
centerline can be congested over VORs.

Or being aware of this do you just watch the skies very
carefully near VOR stations?

Yes. That and ATC Radar Advisory Service are the principal methods
used to separate VFR flights on VFR airways.

Or are there altitude guidelines for each radial?

Nope.

Have you spent any time reviewing this:
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/CurrentFARPart!OpenView