Fan Marker Beacon

A fan marker beacon is a type of radio navigation facility that transmits a signal in a fan-shaped pattern perpendicular to an airway, providing a position fix to aircraft flying along the airway. Fan markers operate on 75 MHz and produce a tone heard through the marker receiver.

Fan Markers vs. ILS Markers

Fan markers identify en route positions along airways. ILS marker beacons (outer, middle, inner) are approach aids that identify distance from the runway threshold on an ILS approach. Both operate on 75 MHz. Fan markers produce a combination of dots and dashes; ILS markers produce their own specific codes.

Current Status

Fan markers are largely obsolete in Canadian airspace, having been replaced by VOR-DME fixes and GPS waypoints for en route position identification. Many have been decommissioned. Always verify marker beacon status in the CFS and NOTAMs before relying on one for navigation.

Related Terms

See also: Marker Beacon, ILS.