On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 20:04:52 -0800, wrote:

I sure didn't know that. What if the tower says "after takeoff maintain
runway heading, climb to 5000" etc. etc. and the ODP has some other sort
of departure (e.g. a turn of some kind)?

I'm relatively new to this but I thought I had to follow what the tower
says in the clearance, until handed off to Departure...

That's different from the situation Roy cited. And yes, if you receive a
vector from ATC, you are obligated to follow it (or question it if you feel
it is unsafe).

If there is an ODP, and based on your review of the situation at that
airport and your aircraft performance, you feel that the vector might not
afford adequate obstacle clearance, it is your obligation to question it,
or even refuse it.

Furthermore, if the tower instructions include a turn, you are not expected
to make that turn until 400' AGL.

Of course, the tower should not issue an unsafe instruction. However, the
AIM does state that "...obstacle clearance is not provided by ATC until the
controller begins to provide navigational guidance in the form of *radar
vectors*." (emphasis mine).

See AIM 5-2-6. And there have been a number of accidents that could have
been avoided had pilots complied with ODP's at various locations.





Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)