# Victor airways

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Victor_airways
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Victor_airways.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_airways
> Source revision: 1268196356
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

In the [United States](/source/United_States) and [Canada](/source/Canada), **Victor airways** are low-altitude [airways](/source/Airway_(aviation)). They are defined in straight-line segments, each of which is based on a straight line between either two [VHF omnidirectional range](/source/VHF_omnidirectional_range) (VOR) stations, or a VOR and a VOR intersection,[1] hence the beginning letter V (pronounced as *Victor* in the [ICAO phonetic alphabet](/source/ICAO_phonetic_alphabet)).

## United States

In the United States, Victor airways are designated by the [FAA](/source/Federal_Aviation_Administration) in FAA Order JO 7400.11.[2] They are available for flight up to, but not including, 18,000ft MSL ([above mean sea level](/source/Above_mean_sea_level))[3] under either [instrument flight rules](/source/Instrument_flight_rules) (IFR) or [visual flight rules](/source/Visual_flight_rules) (VFR).

Victor airways have minimum (and possibly maximum) altitudes for IFR operations established. For VFR operations, victor airways are just a subset of so-called *Federal airways* (which also include so-called *colored airways*), which are designated as [Class E](/source/Airspace_class_(United_States)#Class_E), and hence are extended from 1,200 feet (370 m) [above ground level (AGL)](/source/Above_ground_level) up to, but not including, 18,000 feet (5,500 m) [above mean sea level (AMSL)](/source/Above_mean_sea_level).[4][5][6]

Victor airways are depicted as black solid lines on IFR Low-Altitude Enroute charts and as thick faded blue lines on VFR Terminal and [Sectional Area charts](/source/Sectional_chart). They are identified by a number, similar to an interstate highway (for example, a pilot could say that he/she is "flying Victor Eight").

The width of the victor corridor depends on the distance from the [navigational aids](/source/Navigational_aid) (such as VORs):[7][8]

- When VORs are less than 102 [nautical miles](/source/Nautical_mile) (NM) (189 km) from each other, the airway extends 4 NM (7.4 km) on either side of the centerline (8 NM (14.8 km) total width).
- When VORs are more than 102 NM from each other, the width of the airway in the middle increases to account for the increased margin of error in the VOR signal. The width of the airway beyond 51 NM from a navaid is 4.5 [degrees](/source/Degree_(angle)) on either side of the centerline (at 51 NM from a navaid, 4.5 degrees from the centerline of a radial is equivalent to 4 NM). The maximum width of the airway is at a designated changeover point between the two navaids, usually half way.

## Canada

Controlled low-level airways extend upwards from 2,200 ft [AGL](/source/Height_above_ground_level) up to, but not including 18,000 ft [ASL](/source/Metres_above_sea_level).

### VHF/UHF airways

The basic [VHF](/source/Very_high_frequency)/[UHF](/source/Ultra_high_frequency) airway width is at least 4 [NM](/source/Nautical_mile) on each side of the centerline prescribed for such an airway, and is expanded along a line diverging 4.5° on each side of the centerline from the designated facility.

### LF/MF airways

The basic [LF](/source/Low_frequency)/[MF](/source/Medium_frequency) airway width is at least 4.34 [NM](/source/Nautical_mile) on each side of the centerline prescribed for such an airway, and is expanded along a line diverging 5° on each side of the centerline from the designated facility.

### Mixed airways

Where a Victor airway is established based on a [VOR](/source/VHF_omnidirectional_range)/[VORTAC](/source/VORTAC) and [NDB](/source/Non-directional_beacon), the boundaries of that airway will be those of an LF/MF airway.

### T-routes

Low-level controlled fixed [RNAV](/source/Area_navigation) routes have dimensions of 4 NM of primary obstacle protection area, plus 2 [NM](/source/Nautical_mile) of secondary obstacle protection area on each side of the centreline. The airspace associated with RNAV T-routes is 10 [NM](/source/Nautical_mile) on each side of the centreline. RNAV T-route airspace and protection areas do not splay with distance from the waypoint.[9]

## References

1. PHAK, p. G-33

1. 7400.11, Sec. 6010 *VOR Federal Airways*

1. Dickinson, Joel & Prasse, Phil (2017). ["2"](https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/instrument_procedures_handbook/FAA-H-8083-16B.pdf). *Instrument Procedures Handbook*. U.S. Department of Transportation FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Flight Standards Service. p. 2-3. Retrieved 31 December 2024.

1. PHAK, p. G-12

1. 7400.2, Para. 20-1-5 *Route Identification*

1. 8260.19, Para. 3-1-1a

1. 8260.19

1. TERPS, Para. 15-1-2 *Primary Areas*, 15-1-7 *Changeover Points (COPs)*

1. [*Aeronautical Information Manual*](https://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/ca-publications/AIM-2015-1-E-WEB.pdf). Transport Canada. 2015. p. 193.

## External references

- [*FAA Order JO 7400.2L, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters*](https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/7400.2L_Bsc_w_Chg1_dtd_10-12-17.pdf). [FAA](/source/FAA). Retrieved 2017-12-04. (cited as *7400.2*)
- [*FAA Order JO 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points*](https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/JO_7400.11B.pdf). [FAA](/source/FAA). Retrieved 2017-12-04. (cited as *7400.11*)
- [*FAA Order 8260.3C, United States Standard for Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS)*](http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/FAA_Order_8260.3C.pdf). [FAA](/source/FAA). Retrieved 2017-12-04. (cited as *TERPS*)
- [*FAA Order 8260.19H, Flight Procedures and Airspace*](https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/Order_8260.19H.pdf). [FAA](/source/FAA). Retrieved 2017-12-04. (cited as *8260.19*)
- [*Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge*](https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/). [FAA](/source/FAA). 2016. Retrieved 2017-12-04. (cited as *PHAK*)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Victor airways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_airways) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_airways?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
