Definition
Obstacles located near the departure end of a runway that are lower than 200 feet above the runway elevation and within one nautical mile of the runway. When such obstacles would otherwise require a steeper-than-standard climb gradient for the entire departure, they may instead be noted in the textual description of the instrument departure procedure rather than raising the published climb gradient. Pilots are expected to see and avoid these obstacles using normal climb performance.
Plain English
Short obstacles like trees, poles, or small buildings sitting close to the end of the runway. Instead of forcing every aircraft to climb more steeply to clear them, the procedure just lists them so the pilot knows they are there and can avoid them visually.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument departure procedure discussions and in takeoff or departure notes for a specific runway.
Why Pilots Care
Failure to apply the steeper climb gradient noted for these obstacles can result in terrain or structure impact during the initial departure phase.
Intuition Check
Do not read low as unimportant. In this context, low means not very tall compared with the runway end, but close-in means close enough to matter immediately after takeoff.
Example Sentence 1
The departure chart noted several low, close-in obstacles off the end of Runway 27, including a 75-foot tree at 1,200 feet from the threshold.
Example Sentence 2
Before takeoff the pilot reviewed the notes and confirmed that low, close-in obstacles would not affect the planned departure path.