Definition
A specialized study of the terrain, structures, and other obstructions surrounding a specific airport that determines the procedures, climb gradients, and routing a turbine-powered aircraft must use to safely depart with one engine inoperative. It supplements the standard FAA departure procedures by accounting for obstacles that lie beyond the area normally evaluated for two-engine takeoffs.
Plain English
A detailed look at everything tall around an airport — hills, towers, buildings, trees — used to build a custom escape plan in case an engine fails on takeoff. It tells the crew exactly where to fly and how steeply to climb to stay clear of those obstacles.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument procedure and performance planning discussions for one-engine-inoperative takeoff obstacle clearance.
Derivation
"Obstacle" comes from Latin obstaculum, meaning something that stands in the way. "Analysis" comes from Greek analusis, meaning a breaking down or careful examination. Together the phrase signals a careful, piece-by-piece study of what stands in the way of a safe departure.
Why Pilots Care
It directly determines whether a safe OEI departure is possible and what minimum climb gradient must be achieved to avoid obstacles.
Grounding Statement
Picture the airplane lifting off, losing one engine, climbing more slowly, and needing a prechecked path that still clears everything ahead.
Intuition Check
Do not read “analysis” as a casual visual check of the airport. Here it means a formal performance and obstacle review tied to a specific runway, aircraft, and departure path.
Example Sentence 1
Before departing the mountainous airport, the captain reviewed the airport obstacle analysis to confirm the engine-out turn point and required climb gradient.
Example Sentence 2
Airport obstacle analysis data helped the crew decide whether they could safely use the runway with a heavy load under OEI conditions.