Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs)

JOINT ADVANCED MULTI-ENGINE T-44A

Low Close-In Obstacles. The TERPs specialist is not allowed to publish climb gradients to heights 200'

less. These are typically obstacles very close to the runway and would create a very large climb gradient.

Instead of publishing a climb gradient, the TERPs specialist will publish a NOTE informing you of the

height and location of the obstacles. In addition to complying with the published climb gradient, you must

also ensure you can clear any obstacles published in this type of NOTE.

"Will ATC Clear Me for an IFR Departure Procedure?" In most situations, ATC will not specifically clear

you for an IFR departure procedure. If you are "cleared as filed" and ATC does not issue you further

instructions (by providing radar vectors or assigning a SID/DP), then you are expected to fly the published

instrument departure procedure for the runway used.

SIDs/DPs Instead of IFR Departure Procedures. There are some airports that will provide obstacle

clearance via a SID/DP instead of establishing an IFR departure procedure. You will be notified via

NOTAM or by a statement in the front of the book under the section titled, "IFR Takeoff Minimums and

(Obstacle) Departure Procedures." The statement will say, "RWY XX, use published DP for obstacle

avoidance."

(3) Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs).

A SID is an ATC coded departure procedure established at certain airports to simplify clearance delivery

procedures. SIDs are preplanned IFR departure procedures printed for pilot use in graphic and/or textual

form. SIDs are supposed to be simple, easy to understand, and (if possible) limited to one page. The actual

SID is depicted by a heavy black line; thin black lines represent transition routings. The departure route

description should be complete enough that the pilot can fly the SID with only the textual description.

Pilots operating from locations where SIDs exist can expect an ATC clearance containing a SID.

Military SIDs. Generally speaking, military SIDs provide you with more information than civil SIDs. The

phrase "military SIDs" applies mainly to USAF/USN SIDs in the CONUS (Army SIDs are produced by the

FAA in the CONUS and should be treated as civil SIDs). An example of a military SID is the BOOMER-

FIVE DEPARTURE at Corpus Christi NAS.

Obstacles Are Charted. On a military SID, "prominent" obstacles (not all obstacles) which might create a

hazard if departure procedures are not executed precisely, shall be shown in their exact geographic location.

When portrayal of several obstacles would create clutter, only the highest of the group must be shown. The

distance to the controlling obstacle, upon which the minimum climb rate is predicated, shall be depicted.

ATC Climb Gradients Identified. Military SIDs identify and publish ATC climb gradients exceeding

200 ft/nm. ATC climb gradients are for crossing restrictions or other airspace considerations.

Obstacle Climb Gradients. Military SIDs identify and publish minimum climb gradients exceeding 200 ft/nm

which will ensure proper obstacle clearance.

Civil SIDs. Although civil SIDs (FAA and CONUS Army procedures) in the United States are constructed

using the same TERPs criteria as military SIDs, the information presented is significantly different. It is

important to be aware of the differences. An example of a civilian SID is the BORDER FOUR

DEPARTURE at San Diego International Lindbergh Field.

No Obstacles Are Identified or Depicted. Although many obstacles may be present, civil SIDs do not

provide any obstacle information to the pilot.

ATC Climb Gradients. Civil SIDs also do not normally identify ATC climb gradients in any way; it is up

to the pilot to recognize and compute any ATC climb gradients.

Obstacle Climb Gradients. On civil SIDs, minimum climb gradients required for obstacle clearance will be

depicted in one of two ways: depicted on the SID or included in the IFR departure procedure.

Climb Gradient Depicted On the SID. At some airports, the minimum climb gradient will be

published on the SID. In such cases, although a "trouble T" is depicted on the SID, the climb

gradient published on the SID itself takes precedence over the climb gradient contained in the IFR

Departure Procedure.

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RADIO INSTRUMENTS STAGE