VECTOR DPs

FLIGHT TRAINING PUBLICATION (FLIP) STUDENT GUIDE

CHAPTER EIGHT

When an aircraft is radar vectored off an assigned DP/DP transition, aircrews shall consider the

DP canceled unless the controller adds "except to resume DP." If ATC reinstates the DP and

wishes any restrictions associated with the DP to still apply, they will state "comply with

instructions."

ATC will often issue an amended altitude clearance to aircraft navigating a DP. If the DP

restrictions are not restated by the controller, they are canceled and the aircraft may commence

an unrestricted climb to the assigned altitude. The pilot and NFO are responsible, however, for

maintaining the departure ground track.

A transition of a DP is a procedure used to connect the basic DP with one of several enroute

airways. The start of the transition is in the general vicinity where the departure phase of your

flight will terminate. The aircraft will be handed off to Air Route Traffic Control Center

(ARTCC) for the enroute phase of flight. The DP transitions for example in Figure 8-3 are

Salinas, Los Banos, Fresno, and Avenal.

Notice in Figure 8-5 the full name of the DP and the airport is located at the top and bottom of

the sheet. The planview is a maplike depiction of the departure corridor, but it may not contain

all of the information necessary to interpret the DP. You should refer to the Route Description

for the complete instructions to depart a given runway. All navigational information from lift-off

to the named intersection (TRADR in this case) will be in this section, followed by altitude

restrictions. The definitions of the various DP Transitions will be listed after the departure route

data with any pertinent notes.

When departing NAS Pensacola on a flight to the north or west using the jet routes, you will

probably be cleared to fly this DP. The altitude in your ATC clearance may not be what you

have filed on your flight plan, but it must be one in the high altitude structure. You will initially

climb to your first "at or below" restriction, either 4000 or 9000 feet depending on duty runway.

Once you have passed your last "at or below" restriction, you can commence a climb to the

altitude in your clearance, ensuring that you meet all of the "at or above" altitude restrictions on

the way up. If your assigned altitude were FL 230, you would climb to it past the "at or below

15,000 feet" hold-down.

DEPARTURE PROCEDURES

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