Flying the MON

A preview of what the minimum operational VOR network will look like.

Jason Blair

Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 01:06 PM ET

Verified

[Illustration by Clare Nicholas]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA's Minimum Operational Network (MON) designates airports on IFR charts that offer at least one instrument approach not requiring GPS or DME, serving as a critical backup for pilots during GPS outages.
Remaining VORs supporting MON airports have expanded service volumes, requiring pilots to maintain proficiency in traditional navigation methods like VOR and localizer approaches, including timing and cross-radial identification, for situations without GPS or ATC vectors.
Pilots should incorporate MON airports into alternate airport planning for crucial navigation options, especially for aircraft without WAAS-capable GPS, leveraging these strategically distributed locations for emergency transitions.

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Somewhere a little south of the halfway point between St. Louis and Indianapolis is Olney, Illinois. You might be asking, what makes this a relevant point for flying? Honestly, it has nothing to do with the town. Instead, it’s all about the airport’s instrument approach options and how you would know about them as an IFR pilot.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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