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

AFMAN 11-217V1 3 JANUARY 2005 217
9.11.8.2. The VCOA for Gustavus has two sections. The first part details the takeoff
minimums and the second details the routing and required climb altitudes.
9.11.8.2.1. Takeoff Minimums. The takeoff minimums do apply to USAF
aircrews where they state “climb in visual conditions.” For runway 2, you must
have weather equal or greater than 1500-2½ to use the VCOA. On runway 11 and
20 you can either do the VCOA with weather equal or greater than 1500-2½; or
have a climb gradient of 260 or 290 ft/nm to the altitude specified; and comply
with your MAJCOM takeoff minimums if they are more restrictive. Runway 29
does not include any weather minimums, but does have a procedure listed in this
section; therefore, use your MAJCOM takeoff minimums for runway 29.
9.11.8.2.2. Departure Procedure. Follow the procedure specified for the runway
of departure. For example, for runway 2 the procedures states, “…cross departure
end of runway 11 eastbound at or above 1500, then climb via…” After departure
on runway 2, execute a climbing turn over the airport to cross the departure end of
runway 11 eastbound at or above 1500 feet. Multiple spiraling turns are
authorized as long as you remain within the VCA. Because no airspeed is
annotated on the procedure, fly a maximum of 250 KIAS using a minimum of
23°. 30° of bank is recommended.
9.12. Special MAJCOM Certification (SMC) (authorized airports, aircrews and
aircraft only).
9.12.1. MAJCOMS may elect to develop procedures at specific airports that will allow
aircrews to depart using non-standard weather minimums when no other options for IFR
departures are possible. These are procedures developed by MAJCOMS in conjunction
with MAJCOM TERPS. These procedures are airport, aircraft and aircrew specific;
require specific authorization by MAJCOM; and require specialized training.
9.12.1.1. These procedures will only be developed at airports that have only nonstandard
weather minimums and cannot be used in lieu of meeting a published climb
gradient. For example, in Figure 9.20 below, a MAJCOM can elect to develop a
procedure at Orangeburg SC, but may not develop one at Ft. Bragg, since there is a
climb gradient available.
Figure 9.20. Special MAJCOM Certification (SMC).
9.13. VFR Departures.
9.13.1. If there are no other IFR departure options, crews may depart VFR as a last
resort. This discussion does not apply to training or operational missions where all or
most of the mission is planned as a VFR flight. See AFMAN 11-217 Volume 2, VFR
Flight Procedures, for a discussion of VFR departures where all or most of the mission is
planned as a VFR flight. The following discussion is intended for those cases where the
flight is planned and authorized for IFR but there is either no authorized IFR departure