On Thu, 06 Oct 2005 19:42:18 +0200, Greg Farris
wrote:

The title just about says it - I've always wondered WHY many
non-precision approaches (not talking about LOC only here, but VOR,
VOR/DME, NDB etc) are not lined up with the runway heading. Sometimes it
looks as though the approach desginers have gone out of their way to
make sure the non-precision approach is just a few degrees off - as if
to say - "look stupid - this is not a precision approach . . ." But if
this were so, then we would have to wonder why SOME of these approaches
ARE lined up and straight-in. I'm surev there's a simple explanation
that will be pointed out here.

Off-field VOR's are often used. If the runway is 09/27, and the VOR
is North of the airport - you have no choice but to make it a circling
approach.

Obstacle or terrain clearance.