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:

MON (Minimum Operational Network) airports are designated on IFR charts to provide instrument approach options that do not rely on GPS or DME, serving as a critical backup during GPS outages or system failures.
This initiative is part of the FAA's VOR decommissioning strategy, ensuring pilots are always within 100 nm of a non-GPS/DME approach, supported by enhanced VOR service volumes.
Pilots are encouraged to integrate MON airports into their alternate airport planning, especially for non-WAAS GPS aircraft, and maintain traditional navigation skills for these approaches.

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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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