IFR Departure

AIM 5-2-9 – Departure Procedures

Ensures obstacle clearance, provided the airplane –

crosses the departure end of the runway at least 35' AGL
reaches 400' AGL before turning
climbs at least 200' per NM FPNM or as published otherwise on the chart
- FPM = FPNM / 60 x Groundspeed
- TPP climb/descent rate chart
Pilots are encouraged to file a DP at night, during marginal VMC or IMC

Departure Plates

Takeoff Minimums

FAR 91.175(f) – Clvil airport takeoff minimums

No takeoff minimums mandated for Part 91 operations

Equipment

Requirements

RADAR Departure Procedure

ATC radar vectors to an ATS route, NAVAID, or fix are used after departure
Annotated "RADAR REQUIRED"

RNAV Departure Procedure

For aircraft equipped with RNAV equipment GPS, VOR/DME, DME/DME
Require at least RNAV 1 performance
Annotated "RNAV"

Non-RNAV Departure Procedure

For use by aircraft equipped with ground-based navigation VOR, DME, NDB

Departure Briefing

DEPARTS

Departure Review takeoff type, initial heading, first fix & course, clearance Establish Expectations flying pilot, PIC, positive transfer of controls Plan & Considerations weather, visibility, terrain, airfield, equipment Alternate FAR 91.169 Runway Conditions & Length Trouble rejected takeoff, engine failure Speak up

Visual Departure

SID Standard

Instrument Departure

Reduces pilot and controller workload by simplifying ATC clearances and radio communications
Transition routes connect the end of the basic SID procedure to the enroute structure
Must be cleared by ATC, pilots are not required to accept if assigned
Pilots may request “NO SIDs” in the flight plan’s remarks section
Always printed graphically
May depict special radio failure procedures

ODP Obstacle

Departure Procedure

Provides only obstacle clearance
Printed either textually or graphically
No ATC clearance needed, pilots must ask to fly an ODP
Used if obstacle exists on a 40:1 departure flight path
Graphic ODPs are titled 'OBSTACLE'

DVA Diverse

Vector Area

Diverse Airport Departures provide obstacle clearance when a DP is not published
Initial radar vectors and climb gradients may be provided by ATC
All US airports with a published IAP but with no published DP meet the Diverse Airport criteria
This criteria requires that an airport has been evaluated for no obstacles within 200' altitude/NM up to a minimum IFR altitude
Minimum Climb Gradient

VCOA Visual Climb

Over Airport

A departure option for IFR aircraft in VMC
The pilot visually conducts climbing turns over the airport up to the published "climb to" altitude, from which he proceeds to the instrument portion of the departure
Designed to avoid obstacles beyond 3 SM from the departure end of the runway (DER), as an alternative to complying with climb gradients greater than the standard 200 ft/NM
Advise ATC as early as possible prior to departure of the intent to fly a VCOA
Published in the “Take-Of Minimums and (Obstacle) Departure Procedures” section of the TPP
May appear as an option on graphic ODPs