ODPs may be flown without ATC clearance unless an alternate departure procedure (SID or radar vector) has been assigned by ATC. Which option describes that alternate procedure?

• A. VOR/DME route
• B. SID or radar vector
• C. Visual flight plan
• D. ILS approach

Answer: (B)

ODPs are designed to guarantee obstacle clearance during initial climb and can be used without ATC clearance. When ATC assigns an alternate departure procedure, that becomes your path instead of the published ODP. The described alternate procedure is a Standard Instrument Departure or radar vectors provided by ATC. A SID is a published route that ATC can assign to guide you from the runway to a designated area, while radar vectors are headings given by ATC to direct your climb and turn sequence. If ATC assigns either, you follow that instead of the ODP.

The other options don’t fit because a VOR/DME route is a navigation route rather than a specific ATC-assigned departure procedure, a visual flight plan relates to VFR flight and not a published departure procedure, and an ILS approach is used for arrival and landing, not departure.