Ron Rosenfeld wrote:



Well it should be the case whenever you receive heading instructions from
the tower that they either do not conflict with an ODP, or that they have
been assessed for a DVA. These vectors are below the MVA and a 200 f/nm
climb rate is assumed unless ATC obtains your concurrence with a higher
minimum rate of climb.

"Should" is the operative word. DVAs simply do not fit at most mountain area
airports. There wasn't even any DVA criteria until recently in TERPs. But,
those criteria simply don't fit at places like Reno, Salt Lake, and Las Vegas.
200 feet per mile is a fiction unless you are in Omaha. ;-)



It has not always been the case in the past. MRY as recently as 1999 was
one facility where, at that time, they were issuing instructions in
conflict with an ODP. Specifically they were vectoring folk to the east
(towards some high mountains). I think this was changed when it was
pointed out to them.

Would be interesting to know whether it's really changed. They still don't
have the most promint close-in obstacles on their MVA video map and, although,
this has been brought to their attention at Industry/FAA meetings, Air Traffic
Service simply goes into the bunker mode.