Obstacle avoidance between take-off and airway

wrote:
Well, an airport with no "triangle'T" on the chart is not going to
have published takeoff minimums.

So you are saying the answer to my question is "no".

In effect, what you are saying is that for any airport without
published takeoff minimums, departure planning must be done by VFR
sectional. To put it another way, if there is no "triangle-T" symbol
on the chart, departure planning is always "roll-your-own".

This seems odd to me, and contrary, I think, to common belief. It is
certainly contrary to my understanding of several years.


Your belief is incorrect.

Check the NACO chart legends for the Triangle T. The definition is,
"Take-off Minimums not standard and/or Departure Procedures are
published. Refer to tabulation."

If no Triange T appears on the approach charts for an airport with one
or more IAPs (i.e., and IFR airport) (use KDDC as an example) then all
runways have standard takeoff minimums and all runways have diverse
departure areas.

Perhaps you consider a diverse departure area as a "roll your own."
But, that isn't the way the system views it. It means you don't have to
follow any restriction for obstacle clearance purposes (other than no
turns below 400 feet) before proceding direct to wherever. But, even a
diverse departure area has its limits, and the next revision of the AIM
will address this. If you are making a diverse departure out of a
qualified IFR airport you need to be established on an airway or
otherwise at a 91.177 altitude within 25 miles of the airport in non-DMA
areas, and 46 miles in DMAs.

Back to Big Bear: The airport has a Triangle T of course. The
tabulation states NA for Runway 26, higher than standard for 8 (or
standard with a climb gradient) and to use the RNAV DP.

Jeppesen does a better job in that they list the takeoff minimums for
every runway at an IFR airport even when they are standard and there is
a diverse departure area.