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

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AFMAN 11-217V1 3 JANUARY 2005
Departure Procedures (SDP) take turning performance into account.
9.15.2.2. Meteorological Conditions. Rapidly changing meteorological conditions
(updrafts, downdrafts, tailwinds, headwinds, temperature changes, etc.) are not
accounted for in engine inoperative performance calculations. Although aircrews
receive weather updates prior to and during departure, there could be significant
differences between actual conditions at the aircraft location, depending on the
aircraft proximity to the location of the weather observation. These differences as
well as rapid changes cannot always be predicted or compensated for in a timely
manner. Aircrews should be cognizant of this in departure planning, especially where
obstacle clearance is marginal.
9.15.3. The following methods are authorized for computing engine-out climb
performance on departure. Methods may not be combined. These are in priority order.
9.15.3.1. Meet or exceed the published climb gradient, or 200 ft/nm (whichever is
higher) for the selected departure, with one-engine inoperative, or;
9.15.3.2. Special Departure Procedure (SDP) (if available), or;
9.15.3.3. Vertically clear all obstacles along the planned departure path with one
engine inoperative, or;
9.15.3.4. Use “Limiting Takeoff Runway Available (TORA) to Reduce Climb
Gradient” procedure in TERPS (MAJCOM TERPS only), or;
9.15.3.5. Depart VFR or climb in VFR to an IFR MEA IAW AFI 11-202 Volume 3,
General Flight Rules, and paragraph 9.13 (not applicable to planned VFR training or
operational flights where the majority of the flight is to be conducted under VFR).
9.15.4. Published Climb Gradient. The safest and simplest method to ensure obstruction
clearance in the event of engine loss is to plan to meet or exceed the published climb
gradient or 200 ft/nm (whichever is higher) with one engine inoperative. This method
ensures obstacle clearance provided the published procedures are flown.
9.15.5. Special Departure Procedures (SDP). SDPs are published procedures that
provide escape routing from normal ATC departure routing in the event of an engine loss
or similar performance degradation. SDPs are commercially produced under a contract
with the USAF and are available on the internet. Web site address, user name, and
password information are supplied to aircrews that have completed appropriate training
in the use of SDPs.
9.15.5.1. SDPs are developed using extensive terrain and obstacle databases from
conventional sources as well as those not normally available to aircrews. With one
engine inoperative, an SDP will provide between 0-60 feet of clearance over
obstacle(s) depending on MDS flight manual performance data.
9.15.5.1.1. For military derivative aircraft, obstacle clearance provided with one
engine inoperative will normally be 0 feet.
9.15.5.1.2. For civil derivative aircraft, obstacle clearance provided with one
engine inoperative will be between 0-60 feet depending on MDS.
9.15.5.2. SDPs do not provide standard ATC departure routing; they are for