Definition
A type of departure procedure in which Air Traffic Control (ATC) provides radar vectors to the pilot after takeoff to guide the aircraft from the departure runway onto its assigned route or filed course. The pilot is expected to comply with ATC headings and altitudes until established on a charted route or fix.
Plain English
A departure where, instead of flying a published path on a chart, the controller watches you on radar and tells you which headings and altitudes to fly until you're on your way.
Context Anchor
Seen during instrument departure planning, especially when reviewing a standard instrument departure or receiving a clearance before takeoff.
Derivation
DP stands for Departure Procedure. 'Radar' here signals that ATC is using radar surveillance to actively steer the aircraft, rather than the pilot following a pre-charted set of waypoints.
Why Pilots Care
Because the route isn't published, pilots must be ready to copy and fly headings and altitudes promptly. Missing a vector or a frequency change on a Radar DP can lead to deviations from terrain or traffic separation.
Intuition Check
A Radar DP does not mean your airplane needs its own radar. It means air traffic control uses radar to guide you with heading instructions.
Example Sentence 1
Cleared for takeoff, the pilot expected a Radar DP and was ready to copy vectors from departure control once airborne.
Example Sentence 2
After takeoff the controller issued vectors as part of the radar DP, keeping the aircraft clear of nearby terrain.