FAA Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX)Flight Planning and PerformanceMedium
A Part 121 dispatcher notes that the departure runway at an airport has a published Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP), but the airport has no other restrictive takeoff minimums. Under what condition must the ODP be flown?
- AOnly when specifically required by company OpSpecs for that runway
- BWhenever the standard 200 feet-per-nautical-mile climb gradient would not provide adequate obstacle clearance, unless ATC assigns radar vectors or a diverse vector area applies
- COnly when the flight is filed under VFR
- DOnly during nighttime departures from that runway
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Whenever the standard 200 feet-per-nautical-mile climb gradient would not provide adequate obstacle clearance, unless ATC assigns radar vectors or a diverse vector area applies
An ODP is published when obstacles in the departure area are not cleared by the standard 200 ft/NM climb gradient. Pilots/operators must comply with the ODP unless ATC provides radar vectors or a diverse vector area (DVA) has been established, ensuring obstacle clearance without the published procedure.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. ODP requirements are regulatory/procedural, not dependent solely on OpSpecs listing.
- C. ODPs apply to IFR departures, not VFR operations.
- D. ODP applicability is not limited to nighttime; obstacles exist regardless of time of day.
Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP)
A published procedure providing obstacle clearance for IFR departures when the standard climb gradient is insufficient.
- Standard climb gradient assumption is 200 ft/NM
- ODPs may be textual or graphic
- Not required if ATC provides radar vectors or a diverse vector area (DVA) exists
Memory trick: 200 feet per mile is the floor — below that, follow the ODP or ATC's vector.