The pilot of an aircraft is cleared for a non-standard instrument departure. The ATC reports 'Climb to 940 ft then proceed omnidirectional'. When can the pilot expect obstacle clearance?
ICAO Doc 8168 - Flight Procedures
Chapter 3 OMNIDIRECTIONAL DEPARTURES
3.2 BEGINNING OF DEPARTURE
3.2.1 The departure procedure begins at the departure end of the runway (DER), which is the end of the area declared suitable for take-off (i.e. the end of the runway or clearway as appropriate).
3.2.2 Since the point of lift-off will vary, the departure procedure assumes that a turn at 120 m (394 ft) above the elevation of the aerodrome is not initiated by the pilot sooner than 600 m from the beginning of the runway.
3.2.3 Procedures are normally designed/optimized for turns at a point 600 m from the beginning of the runway. However, in some cases the pilot shall not be allowed to initiate a turn before the DER (or a specified point), and this information will be noted on the departure chart.
ICAO Doc 8168
Chapter 1, Section 3 DEPARTURE PROCEDURES
1.4 OBSTACLE CLEARANCE
1.4.1 The minimum obstacle clearance equals zero at the departure end of the runway (DER). From that point, it increases by 0.8 per cent of the horizontal distance in the direction of flight assuming a maximum turn of 15°.
1.4.2 In the turn initiation area and turn area, a minimum obstacle clearance of 90 m (295 ft) is provided.
An omni-directional departure is a procedure designed so that an aircraft continues straight along the runway heading until it reaches a specified altitude. At that point, it can turn in any direction while still maintaining the required obstacle clearance as outlined in the procedure.
In the given scenario, obstacle clearance is achieved at 940 ft and the pilot is able to turn in any direction while maintaining obstacle clearance.
Note: The obstacle clearance is zero at the departure end of runway (immediately after departure).
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