When in the vicinity of a VOR for VFR navigation, what should a pilot do?

When navigating in the vicinity of a VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range), exercising sustained vigilance for converging aircraft is crucial for safety. The area around a VOR is often frequented by other aircraft due to its role as a navigation aid. Pilots navigating near a VOR will typically be operating in busy airspace where traffic is likely to converge, particularly when many pilots are relying on the VOR for navigation.

By maintaining vigilance, a pilot can be proactive in identifying potential conflicts in air traffic and can take appropriate actions to avoid collisions. Situational awareness is key in these areas, and looking out for other aircraft helps ensure that the pilot can respond effectively to changing traffic patterns.

In contrast, while other options might seem beneficial in certain contexts, they do not address the primary need for awareness of aircraft in the vicinity. For instance, making 90° turns is not particularly relevant to checking for traffic effectively, as it could increase the risk of losing situational awareness instead of enhancing it. Similarly, passing the VOR on the right side of the radial is not a standard operating procedure and does not inherently provide safety with regard to the risk of converging traffic. Maintaining altitude while scanning is important, but without sustained vigilance for conver