Departure Charts and
Procedures
Overview
• Surface Safety and Departure
Safety
• Standard Departure Procedures
• Takeoff Minimums
• Alternate Minimums
• SIDs
• ODPs
• VCOA Departures
• RNAV Departures
• VFR Departures
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Safety in the Departure Environment
IPG 2-1
• IFR Takeoff and Departure is a fast-paced phase of flight
• Crews are very busy
• Historically, takeoff minimums have been successively reduced
• Operations Specifications for Commercial Operators can be approved
to take off with as little as RVR 3 (or 300 feet of visibility)
• Need for newer and more efficient systems over time
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Airport Charts
IPG 2-1
• Airport Diagrams provide the pilot with needed information and
should be used for every flight
• Helpful for IFR planning due to low visibility taxis
• Never taxi IFR without an Airport Diagram
• A/FDs should also be consulted prior to every flight
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
SMGCS
IPG 2-2
• Surface Movement Guidance and Control System
• Facilitates the safe movement of aircraft under low visibility
conditions
• Ground and flight crews are required to comply
• All crews must have a copy of the SMGCS plan if in low visibility
• Part 91 operators are not normally required to comply (waivered in)
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Jeppesen SMGCS Chart
Airport Signage/Lighting/Markings
• Signage, Lighting, and Markings help to maintain Situational
Awareness
• Often overlooked, which leads to accidents that are preventable
• Signage Examples:
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IPG 2-6
Lights and Markings
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IPG 2-6
Runway Incursions
IPG 2-6
• Any occurrence at an airport where there is a collision hazard or loss
of separation
• Mainly caused by errors of misunderstanding or failure to maintain
situational awareness
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Avoiding Runway Incursions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Receive and understand NOTAMs
Copy and Read back, in full, all clearances
Abide by the sterile cockpit rule
Minimize distractions while taxiing
Adhere to takeoff and runway crossing clearances in a timely manner
Position your aircraft so landing aircraft can see you
Monitor radio communication to maintain situational awareness
Remain on frequency until instructed to change
Understand Reduced LAHSO distances
Use exterior lighting
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IPG 2-6
Runway Hotspots
• Historically hazardous locations
• Look up reasons in the A/FD
• See page 476 in A/FD
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IPG 2-6
Standardized Taxi Routes
• Used to improve ground management at high-density airports
• ATC will clear a pre-named route
• e.g., O’hare has the “Silver Alpha” route, DFW has the “KEG” route
• Normally, these routes are included with Jeppesen Charts
• 91 operators will typically not receive Standardized Taxi Routes
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IPG 2-6
Example Standardized Taxi Routes
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
NOTAMs
Why Have Departure Charts
• Reduce frequency congestion
• Ensure obstacle clearance
• Controls the flow of traffic
• Reduce Fuel Consumption
• Possible Noise Abatement Procedures
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
JIC 4-1
Obtaining Charts
JIC 4-1
• Two publishing agencies:
• Jeppesen Charts
• National Aeronautical Charting Group (formerly NACO)
• NACO Charts are primarily domestic
• Jeppesen charts are more broad in scope
• Thus, Airlines use Jeppesen
• Don’t worry about Jeppesen until Airlines
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Departure Standards
• IFR Departures follow criteria in TERPs
• TERPs sets standards:
• Obstacle Clearance
• If obstacles penetrate the climb slope:
• Minimum Ceiling; or
• Climb gradient required
• Some requite a combination of the two
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
JIC 4-2
Flight Planning Considerations
• Types of departures and equipment required
• Can the departure take me where I want to be?
• Is the aircraft able to meet the specific climb gradient in order to
remain clear of obstacles and terrain
• Departure procedures can take pilot to a fix on an airway
• Pilot should plan to start on an airway from that fix
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Obj. Op.
The Standard Departure
• Cross Departure Threshold at 35 feet AGL, then:
• Climb gradient of 200 ft/NM
• Obstacle penetration gradient of 152 ft/NM
• If obstacles penetrate this slope, special avoidance procedures:
•
•
•
•
Climb gradients
Special Avoidance Procedures
Detailed Flight Maneuvers
Ceiling and Visibility Minimums
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
JIC 4-3
The Standard Departure
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
JIC 4-3
Determining Climb Gradient
• Use Formula
• Gradient x
Groundspeed
60
= Rate of Climb
• Use Rate-of-Climb Table
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IPG 2-15
Takeoff Minimums (121 & 135)
IPG 2-9
• Mechanical failure during takeoff is most dangerous
• Decision must be made to go to departure airport or takeoff alternate
• If can’t get back to departure airport, must go to takeoff alternate
• FAA establishes takeoff minimums for 121 and 135 operations
• Standard minimums are 1 statute mile of visibility for singles and twins
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Takeoff Minimums (91)
IPG 2-9
• Takeoff under 91 with 0/0 is acceptable, but unadvisable
• If commercial pilots who fly passengers have to follow a strict
regulation, common sense says it should apply to personal minimums
as well
• Takeoff minimums, if different from standard, will be given with a
on one of the approach charts to that airport
• If the “nonstandard takeoff minimums apply”, go to front of TERPs
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Takeoff Minimums
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
TERPs
Nonstandard Takeoff Minimums
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
TERPs
Takeoff Minimums for Commercial
• Operations Specifications (OpsSpecs) are required to be issued by
certain operators to list the authorizations, limitations and
procedures
• Normally adjusted to accommodate variables
• Required to be filed by 119.5
• Extension of the CFR
• Tailored specifically to the aircraft the operator is flying
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IPG 2-10
HGS Technology
IPG 2-11
• OpsSpecs may state RVR 3
allowed with HGS
• Head-up Guidance
System, or HUD
• Only specific air carriers
authorized to use
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Ceiling and Visibility Requirements
IPG 2-11
• Visibility may be reported as RVR or RVV
• Runway Visual Range (RVR) is based upon what the pilot in a moving
aircraft would see on the runway
• Reported in hundreds of feet
• Updated every minute – obtain from controller
• Updated from a Transmissometer
• Can be available for touchdown, mid-field, and roll-out (5-5-5)
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Ceiling and Visibility Requirements
IPG 2-11
• Runway Visibility Value (RVV) is the distance down the runway that
the pilot can see unlighted objects
• Reported in statute miles for individual runways
• Used in lieu of prevailing visibility
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Prevailing Visibility
IPG 2-12
• Horizontal Distance over which bright lights can be seen and
identified for at least half of the horizon circle
• Usually given by the ASOS, AWOS, ATIS, but can be given by the tower
• Digital ATIS is also available:
• Dispatcher receives ATIS and send to the aircraft via datalink
• Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) must be
installed
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IFR Alternate Minimums (91)
• “1, 2, 3 Rule”
• Highlight 91.169(b)(2)(i)
• Forecast weather at destination:
• 1 hour before and 1 hour after the scheduled arrival
• 2000 foot ceiling
• 3 statute miles of visibility
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
14 CFR
IFR Alternates
IPG 2-14
• Must have:
• Monitored NAVAID
• Cannot be a sole GPS approach
• Weather Reporting Capabilities
• Forecasted weather must meet the following:
• 800-2 for non-precision approaches
• 600-2 for precision approaches
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Nonstandard IFR Alternates
IPG 2-14
• Not all airports can be used as alternates
• Alternate minimums, if different from standard, will be given with a
on one of the approach charts to that airport
• If the “nonstandard takeoff minimums apply”, go to front of TERPs
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Nonstandard Alternate Minimums
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
TERPs
Departure Procedures (DPs)
• Separated into two types:
• Standard Instrument Departure Procedures (SID)
• Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP)
• Printed both graphically and textually
• Conventional and RNAV procedures
• If RNAV, will be printed in title
• e.g., SHEAD TWO DEPARTURE (RNAV)
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IFH 10-5
Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP)
• Can be either in Graphical or Text format
• Provides obstruction clearance via least onerous route
• May be flown without clearance
• (Unless alternate clearance specifically assigned)
• Will always have (OBSTACLE) printed in the procedure
• e.g. GEYSR FOUR DEPARTURE (OBSTACLE)
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IFH 10-5
Graphical ODP
Textual ODP
Standard Instrument Departures (SID)
• Obstacle Clearance, and;
• Transition from terminal area to en route
• Primarily used for system enhancement
• Also reduces workload
• Clearance must be received prior
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IFH 10-5
SIDs Breakdown
IPG 2-19
• SIDs can be broken down into two general types:
• Pilot NAV – Pilot does navigation with little radio communication
• Vector – ATC provides route guidance until at a specific fix
• Will be fairly simple when viewed by the pilot
• Vector SIDs are also called “Radar Controlled Departures”
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Pilot NAV SID
• Crucial to become familiar
with Lost Comms on a
VECTOR SID!
VECTOR SID
Diverse Vectoring Areas
IPG 2-31
• ATC establishes Minimum Vectoring Altitudes (MVA)
• Minimum altitude that a controller can vector aircraft
• Terrain and other considerations in the particular area
• May also establish a diverse vector area (DVA)
• It may be necessary to vector below the altitude to assist departing traffic
• DVA design is outlined in the TERPs
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Visual Climb Over Airport (VCOA)
IPG 2-17
• Departure Procedure is Impossible to Design
• Terrain
• Other Hazards
• Required when:
• Obstacles more than 3 SM from DER require greater than 200 ft/NM climb
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
VCOA
Transition Points
JIC 4-6
• Points that begin the en route segment of the flight
• When filing, choose the name of the DP, followed by a period, then
the 3 letter transition code
• e.g., PEBLE6.SXC
• Pronounced “Pebble Six Departure, Catalina Transition”
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
Pilot NAV SID
Determining the Departure
1. Determine Takeoff Minimums (If nonstandard)
2. Check ODPs
3. Determine if a SID can be used
1. Choose the best SID for the flight
2. If ATC assigns a different SID, may have to recalculate performance
4. Consider climb gradients (fuel burn?)
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IPG 2-21
Procedural Considerations
• Can the aircraft handle the DP?
•
•
•
•
•
Equipment requirements (DME, ADF, etc.)
ATC Equipment (RADAR)
Minimum climb requirements
Restrictions for special types of aircraft (TURBOJET ONLY)
Limited use to certain destinations
• Pilots may file “No SID/STAR” in Remarks section
• Pilots must have the graphical or textual depiction of the DP
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IPG 2-24
RNAV Departures
IPG 2-27
• RNAV allows for new fixes that are independent of present fixes and
navigational aids
• Part of the National Airspace Redesign
• Expected to reduce complexity and increase efficiency of terminal
airspace
• Increases capacity of Terminal Airspace
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
RNAV Departure Procedures
IPG 2-27
• May be a SID or an ODP
• Includes the term (RNAV) in the title
• RNP Standpoint:
• Designed to be 1.0 or 2.0 performance standard
• Means pilot and equipment must be able to maintain the aircraft within 1NM
or 2NM either side of route centerline
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
RNAV Waypoints
IPG 2-28
• Two types of waypoints:
• Fly-by
• Fly-over
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
RNAV PIC Responsibility
• Every RNAV departure procedure lists different equipment req.
• Pilot’s must become familiar with the equipment in their aircraft
• Operational information is found in the AFM or supplements
• Consult the avionics manufacturer for “How-To”
• When in doubt, contact the manufacturer or FSDO
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
IPG 2-28
VFR Departures
IPG 2-31
• There may be times where it becomes IFR en route, but not at
departure
• In this situation a VFR departure can be used as a tool to get off the
ground without waiting for a time slot
• However, there are hazards to consider
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
VFR Departures
IPG 2-32
• Dramatically changes takeoff responsibilities
• Separation maintained by self
• Terrain and obstruction clearance maintained by self
• Must maintain VFR until IFR Clearance
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.
References
• JIC Jeppesen Instrument/Commercial: Guided Flight Discovery
• Obj. Op. Objective Opinion
• 14 CFR Federal Aviation Regulations
• IFH Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15A)
• IPG Jeppesen Instrument Procedures Guide
© 2015 Coast Flight Training. All Rights Reserved.