Contents
What is the purpose of an obstacle departure procedure?
“Obstacle departure procedures or ODPs are one way to depart an airport safely in IMC conditions. When an instrument approach is initially established for an airport, the need for departure procedures is assessed. The procedure designer conducts an obstacle analysis.
What is a departure procedure?
Filed Under: IFR Flight. Instrument departure procedures are preplanned IFR procedures that provide obstruction clearance from the terminal area to the appropriate en route structure and provide the pilot with a way to depart the airport and transition to the en route structure safely.
Do you have to have an obstacle departure procedure?
Obstacle departure procedures are not mandatory unless of course, it was included with the ATC clearance. Typically the ATC clearance will not include the ODP unless the controller assigns it for separation.
Can a ODP be flown without ATC clearance?
ODPs are recommended for obstruction clearance and may be flown without ATC clearance unless an alternate departure procedure (SID or radar vector) has been specifically assigned by ATC. (Source: FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary)
When should an obstacle departure be included in an ATC clearance?
FAA Order 7110.65R, Air Traffic Control–the controller’s handbook–states, “If a published IFR departure is not included in an ATC clearance, compliance with such a procedure is the pilot’s prerogative.” In other words, you have to decide whether you need to follow a specific route or procedure and fly accordingly.
When does the FAA need to use an ODP?
They often are difficult to find and almost never assigned by ATC, so it’s understandable many pilots have a hazy understanding of ODPs. The FAA creates an ODP if obstacles require that a climb of more than 200 feet per nm be maintained for acceptable terrain separation.