Departure Procedures | Clearances

Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP)

An ODP provides obstacle clearance via the least difficult route from the terminal area to the en route structure. Established when high terrain or obstacles surround the airport.

Available in textual or graphical form, published in the TPPs (Terminal Procedures Publication)
May be flown without an ATC clearance — pilot's option
ATC assumes the pilot uses the published ODP when departing a non-towered airport
Standard climb minimums: 35 ft above DER (Departure End of Runway), 200 ft/NM minimum climb gradient, 400 ft AGL before first turn
Higher minimums published as needed (e.g., 570 ft/NM until 2,000 ft)

Standard Instrument Departure (SID)

Pre-published departures that provide obstacle clearance and reduce ATC/pilot workload at high-traffic airports.

Available only in graphical form
ATC clearance required to fly a SID
Same minimum climb requirements as ODP: 35 ft / 200 ft per NM / 400 ft AGL before first turn (often higher per the specific SID)
The pilot must have the SID chart in their possession
You can decline a SID by including "NO SID" in your flight plan remarks

Radar Departure

For airports without a published departure, when you can't comply with the published procedure, or when "NO SID" was filed.

Tower coordinates closely; ATC vectors you immediately after takeoff
Navigation is the controller's responsibility until the verbiage "resume own navigation"
Common at Class B, C, and busier Class D airports

VFR Departure

When weather permits, take off VFR and pick up your IFR clearance in the air. Useful at non-towered airports without published departures, or when ground delays would otherwise be long.

If you accept an IFR clearance below the minimum IFR altitude for your area, you are responsible for terrain and obstacle clearance until reaching filed altitudes — ATC is not
Maintain VFR cloud clearance the entire time you're below your IFR clearance altitude