Obstacle Departure Procedures are preplanned IFR departure instructions printed for pilot use in textual or graphic form to provide obstruction clearance via the least onerous route. Which option is the correct term for these procedures?

• A. Standard Instrument Departures
• B. Radar Departure Routes
• C. Visual Departure Procedures
• D. Obstacle Departure Procedures

Answer: (D)

Obstacle Departure Procedures are the published IFR departure instructions that provide obstacle clearance through the least onerous route, printed in textual or graphic form for pilot use. They’re designed to protect you from terrain and obstacles near the departure end of the runway by prescribing a climb path and, if needed, altitude restrictions to reach a point where obstacle clearance is assured. You can usually fly them without ATC clearance, though you must follow ATC if they assign a different routing or instruction. This specialty is what sets them apart from other departures: Standard Instrument Departures are published routes used to organize traffic flow and require ATC clearance, Radar Departure Routes rely on radar vectors from ATC, and Visual Departure Procedures depend on visual references and conditions rather than obstacle-based protection.