It Looks Like Itll Work

My guardian angel has a perverse sense of humor. I cant count the number of times Ive done the wrong thing for the right reasons and had it turn out better than if I had seen it clearly from the start.

jwanwest

Tuesday, August 01, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The WATTR SIX Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) at KCLM exemplifies challenges pilots face when charted procedures rely on outdated navigation aids like NDBs, particularly without modern IFR GPS equipment.
Pilots operating under Part 91 without the necessary equipment for a specific charted ODP have the discretion to devise and fly alternative safe departure paths, provided they communicate their intentions to ATC.
Potential alternatives for such departures, explored in the article, include using ODPs from nearby airports, leveraging available VORs, or employing Visual Climb Over Airport (VCOA) procedures, all of which require careful pilot judgment and awareness of surrounding terrain.

See a mistake? Contact us.

My guardian angel has a perverse sense of humor. I can’t count the number of times I’ve done the wrong thing for the right reasons and had it turn out better than if I had seen it clearly from the start.

That angel would be chuckling, through, watching me puzzle out an IMC departure from Fairchild International in Port Angeles, WA (KCLM). It looks simple on the surface: Fly the WATTR SIX. This is a charted departure procedure for obstacles. Pilots east of the mighty Mississippi rarely see these, but they help many western pilots clear the rocks as they claw their way skyward and into radar coverage.