Depart with no IAP

Even with proliferating GPS approaches, not all airports have an approach. And, without an approach, there’s no departure procedure. Can you legally get out in IMC?

Mark Kolber

Friday, May 24, 2024 at 08:16 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Under Part 91, it is legally permissible to depart IFR from an airport without an instrument approach procedure (IAP) or published departure procedure (ODP), even in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Airports without IAPs lack official obstacle assessments, placing sole responsibility for terrain and obstacle clearance on the pilot until reaching the minimum IFR altitude.
While legal, such departures could be deemed "careless or reckless" (§91.13) if they create an "unacceptable hazard" due to inadequate visual reference for obstacles.
Safe execution requires extensive pilot familiarity with the airport's surroundings through prior visual flights and sound personal risk management, as electronic terrain displays are not a sufficient substitute for official obstacle assessment.

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Ellington, Connecticut, has a nontowered Class G airport (7B9) under the edge of the 10-mile ring of the Bradley Class C. Ellington has no instrument approaches. It’s not even displayed on the IFR Low En-Route chart because its 1800-foot runway is less than the 3000 foot minimum needed to be shown.

You’ve planned an IFR flight in a Cessna 172 from Ellington to Long Island MacArthur airport (KISP) to visit family. Your filed flight plan sends you direct to the Hartford VOR where you plan to pick up V1 for the ride to Long Island.