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6 Answers

Portland One Departure, Assigned Heading

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Instrument Rating

I was watching a youtube video of a Piper Malibu departing KPDX. They were assigned the Portland One departure out of 28R. The departure procedure says climb heading 283 to 800, thence an assigned heading expect RADAR vectors to assigned route/fix.

The pilot's takeoff clearance was "[callsign], runway 28R, turn left heading 240, cleared for takeoff."

Usually an assigned heading would mean the departure procedure is cancelled (temporarily, or permanently). But I'm confused in this instance, because the SID calls for flying heading 283 to 800'MSL, and then an assigned ATC heading. So, I'm not sure if this assigned heading by ATC at takeoff applies to after I reach 800' MSL, or if it applies to after I reach the usual IFR 400' AGL... Or if I should make the turn as soon as I'm stabilized in the climb and visually can confirm I'm not going to hit anything by turning in that direction?

The pilot in the video took off and at about 400' AGL (which is close to 400' MSL at KPDX) turned to heading 240.

What's correct?

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6 Answers



  1. ayavner on Nov 08, 2018

    Sounds to me like he should have waited till 800′ since the instruction is heading 283 to 800 and THEN atc assigned heading, then expect vectors to assigned fix/etc.

    maybe post the video in question, for some context?

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  2. Mark Kolber on Nov 09, 2018

    I put in a response with a link to the probable video, but this site is funny about external links, so it may or may not show.. it is probably Malibu Flyer’s Portland Intl Departure video.

    Yes, he repeats the DP instruction to climb heading 283 (it’s runway heading) until 800′, then assigned heading a few times.

    Yes, when the Tower gives him 240, he puts it in the box right away.

    No, I can’t tell if he waits until 800 before making the turn.

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  3. AviatorTrevor88 on Nov 11, 2018

    The pilot does in fact turn at 400′ if you look carefully at the hundreds place on the altimeter roll, but it doesn’t really matter to me what the pilot did. I just want to know what the correct procedure is. And maybe a reference to some official source, like the AIM, would be a bonus.

    Sounds like you’re saying the assigned heading didn’t cancel the climb to 800′ on runway heading prior to making a turn.

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  4. Mark Kolber on Nov 13, 2018

    That’s correct. I don’t think there is an official reference, other than the instruction itself, which says,

    “Climb heading 283° to 800, thence on assigned heading expect RADAR vectors to assigned route/fix”

    That’s the sequence. straight out to 800, then turn to the assigned heading, then expect radar vectors.

    Think about it. Why wouldn’t the instruction to climb to 800 before turning apply? If you think it doesn’t, when would it? Do you have a scenario where the instruction to turn on the assigned heading after reaching 800 wouldn’t be meaningless?

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  5. AviatorTrevor88 on Nov 14, 2018

    On other SIDs where it doesn’t base any of its instructions on ATC assigned headings, it is assumed that following the SID is “cancelled” if ATC issues you a vector. They could always at a later time tell you to “resume flying the SID.”

    For example, if I’m assigned the MINNE5 departure out of PDX, and I’m told on the runway “[callsign], runway 28R, turn left heading 240, cleared for takeoff”, that would imply the MINNE5 no longer applies.

    I think I agree with you though. It’s likely that because the SID specifically includes an ATC vector, that the assigned heading before takeoff would not cancel the SID’s instruction to climb to 800′ prior to turning.

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  6. Mark Kolber on Nov 15, 2018

    AviatorTrevor88, I agree with you in the MINNE. The point is that the instructions in the two procedures are different. Apples and oranges, actually.

    MINNE gives you a series of published heading and courses. Doesn’t mention ATC heading assignments at all. If ATC issues a vector, it necessarily means you are no longer flying the published course. The assignment is inconsistent with the published procedure. You simply can’t follow both.

    On the PORTLAND, OTOH, the existence of an assigned heading is specifically dealt with in the instructions, and it tells you when to do it. The assignment is consistent with the published procedure.

    It’s kind of one of those forest vs trees situations.

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