Obstacle departure

[flyin172]

When do you have to follow the published obs. departure procedure? I have gotten different responses and I am looking to see what everyone here thinks.

 

[Burt Reynolds]

Use a published ODP when:

you aren't flying a SID,
you aren't receiving radar vectors, or
when you can visually avoid the obstructions

 

[248to2.8]

I follow them everytime (unless I am flying a SID). If I turn before complying with the height restriction because I know I will clear it visually by the time I get there, but then lose an engine, there goes my clearance. Never hurts to follow them all the time. Just let ATC know you are following the DP if they ask you to do something else. They won't have a problem, unless it's Green Bay were they like to depart you into arriving traffic for the opposite direction.

 

[Ruprex]

I have often thought that atc has no clue what an obstacle dp is. It is always a great debate, becasue take off departure instructions are usually contrarty to an obstacle departure. My botton line is, if there are mountains in the area, I pay attention to it. If I loose an engine, my company allready has procedures to follow. In my opinion, uless you previously discuss with ATC complying with and obstacle departure, they will have no clue what you are doing.

 

[AvroJockey]

Straight from the AIM!

"ODP's provide obstruction clearance via the least onerous route from the terminal area to the appropriate en route structure. ODP's 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."

"The AIM indicates that obstacle clearance responsibility rests with pilot’s when they choose to climb in visual conditions in lieu of flying a departure procedure and/or depart under increased takeoff minima rather than fly the departure procedure. Consideration of these factors is the responsibility of the Pilot-in-Command."

"Pilots operating under 14 CFR Part 91 are strongly encouraged to file and fly a DP at night, during marginal Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) and Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC)"

http://www.faa.gov/AIM/Chap5/aim0502.html#5-2-6


Follow them all the time, if you want to. Personally, if I can maintain VFR until the enroute segment or vectors, and the terrain/area is familiar, I will do what I want.
Notice the words 'strongly encouraged,' because there's no legal requirement to fly a DP, unless cleared to do so by ATC. Of course you could break other rules by not flying the DP in N-VMC/M-VMC/IMC, ie. minimum safe altitudes, and operating in a careless and reckless manner.