On Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:34:21 -0800, VOR-DME wrote:

Thanks to all for previous helpful replies.
Here's a departure question. (Those who do not fly real airplanes under
IFR need not feel compelled to reply):

I'm departing a non-towered field IFR, let's stay East Coast, and say
Bennington (KDDH), departing eastbound. There is a published departure
proceedure, for obstacle (read mountain) clearance. Under Part 91, I am
not required to follow this proceedure, but due to mountain obscuration I
may wish to do so. What do I put in my flight plan, or in my
communication via the local GCO to indicate whether I intend to return to
the Cambridge VORTAC or not? Albany approach may have other IFR traffic
coming into Bennington, so they will want to know if I am backtracking to
CAM or not.

Thanks in advance . . .

Technically, you don't have to put anything special in your flight plan,
nor communicate anything special to ATC. ATC should be aware that you
might fly the obstacle DP. You don't need any special clearance or
permission to do so UNLESS ATC assigns you a SID or radar vector. (If ATC
does that, then ATC is taking responsibility for obstacle clearance).

P/CG and also AIM 5-2-8 "...ODPs are recommended for obstruction clearance
and may be flown without ATC clearance unless an alternate departure
procedure (SID or radar vector) has been specifically assigned by ATC. "



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