AIM ¶ 5-5-14 — Instrument Departures
AIM 5-5-14 explains pilot and controller responsibilities for instrument departures, ODPs, SIDs, DVAs, and VCOA — study guide for checkride prep.
In Plain English
AIM 5-5-14 divides responsibility for instrument departures between the pilot and the controller.
Pilot responsibilities before departure:
- Consider terrain and obstructions near the departure airport.
- Decide whether obstacle clearance can be maintained visually or whether a published departure procedure should be flown.
- Check for an Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) and/or Departure Procedure (DP/SID).
- Consider a Visual Climb Over Airport (VCOA) when appropriate, and advise ATC as early as possible of the intent to fly it.
- At airports without published IAPs (and therefore no published departure procedure), determine and take whatever action is necessary to ensure a safe departure.
Controller responsibilities:
- At towered fields, may specify takeoff direction, turn, or initial heading consistent with published DPs or Diverse Vector Areas (DVAs).
- At non-towered fields inside a Class E surface area, must obtain the pilot's concurrence that the assigned procedure allows compliance with local traffic, terrain, and obstacles.
- If an initial heading takes an aircraft off an assigned procedure (e.g., an RNAV SID), the controller assigns an altitude to maintain.
- Includes departure procedures in the clearance when needed for separation.
- At fields with both SIDs and DVAs, ATC may not use them concurrently; an amended clearance is required and must be given in time for the pilot to verify climb performance and brief the change before entering the runway.
This split of duties matters operationally: the pilot owns obstacle avoidance unless flying a procedure or vector that guarantees it, and must brief departure options before taxi.
AIM Source Text
FAA AIM ¶ 5-5-145-5-14. 5-5-14. Instrument Departures
Pilot. Prior to departure considers the type of terrain and other obstructions on or in the vicinity of the departure airport. Determines if obstruction avoidance can be maintained visually or that the departure procedure should be followed. Determines whether an obstacle departure procedure (ODP) and/or DP is available for obstruction avoidance. One option may be a Visual Climb Over Airport (VCOA). Pilots must advise ATC as early as possible of the intent to fly the VCOA prior to departure. At airports where IAPs have not been published, hence no published departure procedure, determines what action will be necessary and takes such action that will assure a safe departure. Controller. At locations with airport traffic control service, when necessary, specifies direction of takeoff, turn, or initial heading to be flown after takeoff, consistent with published departure procedures (DP) or diverse vector areas (DVA), where applicable. At locations without airport traffic control service but within Class E surface area when necessary to specify direction of takeoff, turn, or initial heading to be flown, obtains pilot's concurrence that the procedure will allow the pilot to comply with local traffic patterns, terrain, and obstruction avoidance. When the initial heading will take the aircraft off an assigned procedure (for example, an RNAV SID with a published lateral path to a waypoint and crossing restrictions from the departure end of runway), the controller will assign an altitude to maintain with the initial heading. Includes established departure procedures as part of the ATC clearance when pilot compliance is necessary to ensure separation. At locations with both SIDs and DVAs, ATC will provide an amended departure clearance to cancel a previously assigned SID and subsequently utilize a DVA or vice versa. The amended clearance will be provided to the pilot in a timely manner so that the pilot may confirm adequate climb performance exists to determine if the amended clearance is acceptable, and brief the changes in advance of entering the runway. At locations with a DVA, ATC is not permitted to utilize a SID and DVA concurrently.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What must a pilot consider prior to an instrument departure regarding obstacles?
Per AIM 5-5-14, the pilot must consider the type of terrain and other obstructions on or near the departure airport, determine whether obstruction avoidance can be maintained visually or requires a departure procedure, and check whether an ODP, DP, or VCOA is available.
Q2If you intend to fly a Visual Climb Over Airport (VCOA), what must you do?
Per AIM 5-5-14, pilots must advise ATC as early as possible of the intent to fly the VCOA prior to departure.
Q3Can ATC assign both a SID and a DVA at the same airport on the same departure?
No. Per AIM 5-5-14, at locations with both SIDs and DVAs, ATC is not permitted to utilize a SID and DVA concurrently. ATC must issue an amended departure clearance to switch between them, given in time for the pilot to verify climb performance and brief the change before entering the runway.
Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 5