Chapter 5: Departure

Question 1

When should you not takeoff? What is the exception?

Answer 1

Do not takeoff when existing weather is below lowest compatible approach mins. Exception: MAJCOMs may publish alternate T/O mins and recovery option when weather is lower than above. T/O vis must be RVR of 600 or greater.

Question 2

Do not takeoff when?

Answer 2

Where thunderstorms or other hazardous conditions produce hail, strong winds, gust fronts, heavy rain, lightning, wind shear unless rwy and flight path clear of these hazards

Question 3

Can you takeoff with ice, snow, frost or other contamination on aircraft?

Answer 3

No, unless aircraft flight manual authorizes it

Question 4

On VFR departure, can pilots use see and avoid?

Answer 4

Yes. Don’t necessarily need to meet climb gradients but must see and avoid obstacles and terrain on departure.

Question 5

On IFR flights, what climb performance is needed and for what situation with the engines?

Answer 5

200’/NM or whatever is published, whichever is higher, with both engines operating

Question 6

What is the min turn altitude after takeoff?

Answer 6

400’ AGL unless required for published procedure or by ATC

Question 7

Do climb gradients account for low close-in obstacles?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

How must aircrew account for one engine inop on takeoff (OEI)?

Answer 8

1) . Have Special Departure Procedures (SDP) or
2) . Non-std takeoff minimums to vertically or laterally clear all obstacles
3) . Meet published climb gradient or 200’/NM whichever is higher with OEI
4) . If no other methods, PIC may reduce climb gradient to 152’/NM

Question 9

What are the IFR departure procedures?

Answer 9

1) . Std Instrument Departure (SID)
2) . Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP)
a) . Non-std takeoff mins
b) . Specific routing
c) . Visual Climb Over Airport (VCOA)
d) . Reduced Takeoff Runway Length Procedure (RTRL)
e) . Any combo of above
3) . Diverse Vector Area (DVA) why must everything acronym
4) . Specific ATC Departure Instructions
5) . Diverse Departure
6) . MAJCOM-certified
7) . Special Departure Procedure (SDP)
8) . Omni-directional Departure (ICAO)

Question 10

Where does the standard IFR climb gradient begin (ICAO)? USAF/USN? FAA/USA?

Answer 10

ICAO: 16’ above departure end runway (DER)
USAF/USN: 0’
FAA/USA: 0-35’
Just assume 35’ worst case if that would ever even be a factor (lifting off near the DER)

Question 11

What are ICAO max departure speeds for Cat E aircraft to maintain guarantee of obstacle clearance?

Answer 11

300 KIAS

Question 12

What does the “Trouble T” symbol indicate on an approach plate? Why is it trouble?

Answer 12

Departure procedures exist, or different takeoff minima or takeoff obstacle notes
These departure procedures or different takeoff minima MUST be flown even if given ATC vectors and ATC will not tell you to fly them. Will only know about them if look them up.

Question 13

At what point is an ODP considered canceled?

Answer 13

Once at or above min vectoring altitude/min IFR altitude. ATC CANNOT vector aircraft off of this or issue an altitude lower than climb to altitude in ODP

Question 14

What are takeoff obstacles? Low close-in obstacles?

Answer 14

Obstacles within 3 SM of DER that require a climb gradient greater than 200’/NM
Obstacles below 200’ of DER that require climb gradient greater than 200’/NM for a very short distance

Question 15

What exactly is a diverse departure?

Answer 15

When you takeoff and get no vectors from ATC but just turn on course per what was filed once pass through 400’ AGL. Will never be “cleared diverse departure”, it is understood.
Can only fly them if no ODP for ex:
1) No departure procedure published
2) No climb gradient published in Trouble T’s
3) No non-std takeoff weather minimums published
May see restrictions for a diverse departure in Trouble T’s, for ex: “Diverse departures only between 160 and 270 CW”

Question 16

What is an omnidirectional departure?

Answer 16

ICAO procedures like a diverse departure BUT may be published even if there are factor obstacles which beat the 200’/NM climb gradient.
Like diverse departures, they expect at least a 200’/NM climb gradient or whatever is published (unlike diverse departures).

Question 17

What are non-standard IFR takeoff minimums? Are aircrew allowed to use these as weather criteria?

Answer 17

They will look like approach weather requirements, a ceiling and visibility. For example, 300-1. This means a ceiling and visibility of 300’ and 1 SM are required in order to takeoff with this method. This is because there is a factor obstacle which you will not clear with a 200’/NM std climb gradient. You will not be able to see this obstacle with weather below these mins to avoid it because you will be in the weather.
We can use these as weather criteria to see and avoid the factor obstacle.

Question 18

What is ODP specific routing?

Answer 18

The most commonly thought of departure procedure when people say “ODP”. It is a directive to a heading and an altitude, for ex: “climb via heading 320 to 1900’ then on course.”

Question 19

What is a visual climb over airport (VCOA)?

Answer 19

For IFR aircraft operating VMC to basically, if they have the weather minima, spiral climb over the airfield to a certain altitude (usually MEA) before continuing on their routing.
MUST be published in Trouble T and must tell ATC that going to fly it STAT, MAJCOM training needed, CANNOT create own VCOA, aircraft cannot exceed needed visibility distance (based on center of airfield). Think of it like a spiraling circling procedure in a climb.
Does NOT guarantee obstacle clearance, pilots must visually acquire and avoid obstacles on the way.
*Note: there is not VCOA radius value for airspeeds greater than 250!!!

Question 20

What is an RTRL (reduced runway takeoff length) departure?

Answer 20

If the departure would require an excessive climb gradient, they will have a takeoff by point published to try an keep climb gradients more normal.
For ex: “Standard takeoff minimums and a normal 200’ per NM climb gradient, takeoff must occur no later than 1700’ per DER”. Look at TOLD and see if good.
Only going to be a factor in a max gross weight situation

Question 21

If you see “RWY 34, NA-Obstacles” in Trouble T’s, what does that mean?

Answer 21

Cannot do an IFR departure from runway 34.

Question 22

What is a diverse vector area (DVA)?

Answer 22

Will see in Trouble T’s as a “DIVERSE VECTOR AREA (RADAR VECTORS)”. May have own climb gradient to meet. If flying this, must advise ATC, but do not need to fly ODP. Kind of like specific ATC departure instructions.

Question 23

What are specific ATC departure instructions?

Answer 23

Vectors from ATC on takeoff for example.
They must follow DVA restrictions and USAF aircraft must fly the ODP prior to accepting ATC departure instructions, except when on a DVA or SID or if pilot can visually verify flight path is clear. If in doubt of last, query controller (don’t fly their vector).

Question 24

What is a standard instrument departure (SID)?

Answer 24

Departure procedure to ease departures and transitions out of airspace. Graphic depictions in Foreflight/charts and must be cleared for them, for ex “CLEARED ELVIS 2 DEPARTURE.”
If cannot fly, put “NO SID” in departure remarks. Otherwise expect it.

Question 25

If cleared to fly the SID, must you fly per any altitude restrictions depicted on the chart?

Answer 25

Only if told “climb via SID”. If just “Cleared ELVIS 2 departure” then only have to fly lateral routing and meet climb gradient, don’t have to meet any published at or above altitudes on the chart.

Question 26

When looking at a SID, if see * vs dagger symbol on climb gradients, what do they mean?

Answer 26

• is obstacle clearance climb gradient

dagger is ATC climb gradient

Question 27

What does a vector SID look like?

Answer 27

It’ll show the runways/field and desired headings off of them on takeoff and then a bunch of different fixes/NAVAIDs without bolded lines for routing. Looks like a page of VORTACs. ATC will vector you to one of these based on your routing/what file.

Question 28

What is a Special Departure Procedure (SDP)?

Answer 28

It is an aircraft specific procedure which can help with dealing with an engine loss at high gross weight. They will be specific to each field.

Question 29

What are RNAV requirements for an RNAV SID?

Answer 29

RNAV-1 or RNP-1, whichever is published on the departure.

We can’t fly these–we’re only RNAV enroute capable