An aircraft is flying on the true track 090° towards a VOR station located near the equator where the magnetic variation is 15°E. The variation at the aircraft position is 8°E. The aircraft is on VOR radial:

The aircraft is flying towards the VOR on a TRUE TRACK of 090° along a given radial and the reciprocal of 090° is 270°.

However, as all Radials from the VOR station are Magnetic Bearings FROM the station (QDR) we must take Magnetic Variation into consideration.

We have been given Magnetic Variation at the aircraft and at the VOR; the question is which applies? In the case of a VOR, the applicable MV is that at the VOR, in this case 15° E.

Variation East = Magnetic Least

270°T - 15°E = 255°M

The aircraft is therefore on the R255 radial.