Plain English Meaning

A pre-planned route to follow after takeoff that keeps the aircraft safely away from terrain and obstacles, and often fits the aircraft into the wider air traffic flow.

Full Definition

Published instrument flight procedures that provide a safe, obstacle-clear path from the runway to the en route structure after takeoff. DPs come in two forms: Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs), which give terrain and obstacle clearance, and Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs), which add air traffic control routing for traffic flow management.