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:

Departing IFR from airports without published instrument approach procedures (which also means no official departure obstacle assessment) is technically legal for Part 91 pilots.
Despite legality, such departures in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) can be deemed "careless or reckless" under §91.13 due to the pilot's sole responsibility for terrain and obstacle clearance in an unassessed environment.
Pilots retain full responsibility for obstacle clearance until reaching the minimum IFR altitude, even when receiving an ATC clearance, unless explicitly issued a vector after establishing radar contact.
Safe IFR departures from these unassessed airports depend on the pilot's intimate familiarity with local terrain and obstacles (gained through visual flights) and robust personal risk management, as avionics terrain displays are not a substitute for official assessments.

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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.