BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE ...

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AFMAN 11-217V1 3 JANUARY 2005
procedures that specify an aircraft category for different aspects of the procedure, use
the aircraft approach category to determine which procedure(s) to apply.
9.5.3. Basic Rules for all IFR Departures. No matter what method of IFR departure is
used, these basic rules always apply:
9.5.3.1. Delay all turns until at least 400 feet above the departure end of the
runway elevation unless an early turn is specifically required by the departure
procedure, with the annotation of “immediate” or “as soon as practical”.
9.5.3.2. Climb at a minimum of 200 feet per nautical mile unless a higher gradient
is published. Air Force aircraft must always meet or exceed the published climb
gradient for the runway used with all engines operating.
9.6. Methods of IFR Departures (All Engines Operating). There are six authorized
methods for departing IFR with all engines operating:
9.6.1. Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP); Textual or Graphic
9.6.2. Standard Instrument Departure Procedures (SID)
9.6.3. Specific ATC Departure Instructions (including radar vectors)
9.6.4. Diverse Departures
9.6.5. Visual Climb Over the Airport (VCOA)
9.6.6. Special MAJCOM Certification (authorized airports, aircrews and aircraft only)
9.6.7. If unable to depart IFR using any of the above listed methods, a VFR climb to the
IFR MEA or a VFR departure are authorized IAW AFI 11-202 Volume 3 General Flight
Rules if allowed by your MAJCOM. A VFR climb to the IFR MEA or a VFR departure
are to be used only as a last resort when the mission priority justifies the increased risk
(not applicable to planned VFR training or operational flights where the majority of the
flight is to be conducted under VFR).
9.7. Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP). If any obstacles penetrate the 40:1 OCS, the
TERPS specialist must notify the pilot and provide a procedure to depart under IFR. The
TERPS specialist may fulfill this requirement using one of the following methods or a
combination of one of the following methods: publication of location of obstacles, nonstandard
takeoff weather minimum, minimum climb gradient, or specific routing. On U.S.
Government charts (DoD FLIP, NACO), the notification is provided by the placement of a
special symbol on all of the IAPs and SIDs for the airport. The symbol is a white “T” on a
black inverted triangle ( ). From now on, we’ll refer to this “T” symbol as the “Trouble T”
because it usually means trouble for departing aircraft. The presence of the “Trouble T”
means you must consult the separate listing in the front of the approach plate titled, “IFR
Takeoff Minimums and (Obstacle) Departure Procedures.”