RTCA DO-196-1986 PDF

Full title and description

Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Airborne VOR Receiving Equipment Operating within the Radio Frequency Range of 108–117.95 MHz (RTCA DO-196, approved November 17, 1986). This RTCA document defines operational goals, minimum performance characteristics and recommended test procedures for airborne VHF Omnirange (VOR) receiving equipment used for airborne navigation.

Abstract

DO-196 provides Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for airborne VOR receivers, describing required performance in normal and abnormal operating conditions, interference and environmental considerations, test methods, and performance verification criteria. The standard consolidates and updates earlier VOR guidance to reflect operational experience and improvements in receiver design.

General information

• Status: Current (base edition published 1986; commonly listed as the DO-196 baseline MOPS in industry catalogues).
• Publication date: November 17, 1986.
• Publisher: RTCA, Inc. (Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics).
• ICS / categories: Aerospace/aviation standards; avionics performance and radio navigation equipment (VHF Omnirange/VOR).
• Edition / version: Base edition (DO-196, 1986).
• Number of pages: Approximately 112 pages (published PDF count commonly listed as 112 pages).

Scope

DO-196 specifies minimum operational performance requirements and recommended test procedures for airborne VOR receiving equipment that operates in the VHF navigation band (108.00–117.95 MHz). The scope includes normal navigation performance, accuracy, bearing and course information quality, receiver behavior under interference and multipath conditions, and environmental/test conditions necessary to verify conformance for airborne installations. The standard replaces earlier VOR MOPS to provide a single consolidated reference for manufacturers, integrators and regulators.

Key topics and requirements

• Operational performance objectives for airborne VOR receivers (accuracy, sensitivity, selectivity).
• Test procedures for verifying bearing accuracy and course deviation under normal and degraded conditions.
• Requirements for receiver response to adjacent-channel and intermodulation interference.
• Environmental and installation-related test conditions relevant to airborne use (temperature, vibration, power variations, etc.).
• Guidance on equipment indication, failure modes, and minimum annunciation needed for safe navigation.
• Compatibility requirements within the 108–117.95 MHz VHF navigation band and interoperability considerations.

Typical use and users

Primary users are avionics equipment manufacturers, aircraft integrators, certification authorities (e.g., FAA and equivalent agencies), test laboratories, and airline/aircraft maintenance engineers. Typical uses include defining product design goals, creating test plans for qualification, supporting certification evidence for airborne installations, and informing procurement requirements for VOR navigation equipment.

Related standards

DO-196 is related to earlier RTCA VOR documents it supersedes (DO-149 and DO-153/DO-153A) and to other RTCA/ISO/EUROCAE standards referenced for avionics testing and installation (for example DO-160 environmental testing and other navigation MOPS). It is often referenced alongside other RTCA DO-series standards dealing with airborne navigation and equipment qualification.

Keywords

VOR, VHF Omnirange, airborne VOR receiver, navigation receiver, MOPS, RTCA DO-196, 108–117.95 MHz, avionics, receiver performance, bearing accuracy, interference testing.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: RTCA DO-196 is the Minimum Operational Performance Standards document for airborne VOR receiving equipment operating in the VHF navigation band (108–117.95 MHz), approved November 17, 1986.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers required operational performance, accuracy, interference and environmental behaviour, test procedures, and verification methods for airborne VOR receivers used in navigation and guidance.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Avionics manufacturers, aircraft integrators, certification authorities, test labs and maintenance organizations use DO-196 when designing, testing, certifying or procuring airborne VOR receiving equipment.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 1986 DO-196 base document is the RTCA MOPS reference for airborne VOR receivers and is commonly listed in standards catalogues as the baseline; it supersedes earlier RTCA VOR documents (DO-149 and DO-153/153A). Users should check with RTCA or the applicable certification authority for any amendments, changes or later documents that may affect certification or regulatory acceptance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — DO-196 is part of the RTCA DO-series of aviation standards and MOPS documents. It is related to other DO documents addressing navigation equipment, avionics environmental testing (e.g., DO-160) and system performance standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: VOR, VHF Omnirange, receiver MOPS, airborne navigation, 108–117.95 MHz, RTCA DO-196, bearing accuracy, interference testing.