When can you turn on course after take off?

Question

When can you turn on course after take off?

Answer 1

Whenever you need to. You might have to coordinate with the tower, if the airport has a tower (best done BEFORE you take the active). Remember, ATC is there to make the flow safe and efficient, not fly your airplane for you. If you give them enough of a heads up, they'll work with you.

At uncontrolled fields, whenever you deem it safe to turn on course, do so. As patrick above noted, cutting through the pattern is not considered safe.

Answer 2

Depends, bigger airports have SIDS (Standard Instument Departure) which lead you out of the airport airspace to an NDB or VOR station.But if your flying VFR you can usually go onto your route shortly after takeoff or when you are handed off by tower to center control.But that applies to different countries.

Answer 3

Some airports, especially large commercial airports, have departure procedures.  So, the answer is VERY specific to the airport you're asking about.

Answer 4

If you are VFR, then typicaly you can turn on course after leaving the traffic pattern, unless that airport has a specific departure procedure either given to you by the towner or clearance delivery, then you would do that one first. After completion of the assigned procedure you can then turn onto your course.

Answer 5

Simple question,but it really depends on your place of departure.The answer you may be looking for,I will just assume concerns safety and not a long list of regulations involving FARs . In uncontrolled airspace,and let us say in a nice big patch of grass in your back field with an old Piper Cub,you really may start to turn to your desired heading as soon as you leave the ground.Obstructions, trees,wires,buildings should avoided with common sense.The smart rule of thumb things to consider for SAFE operations is planning for the unexpected.Do Not cut corners.Fly as if you my lose thrust at anytime.If a low turn or flight is your goal,study the area well.Keep your turns clean and your airspeed up in case you need to trade it for altitude.Always keep a back up emergency power off landing area with in gliding range.Hope this helps you out.Fly safe Fly fun.

Answer 6

When cleared by departure control, in controlled airspace.

Answer 7

you follow the noise abatement, or departure procedure for the airport.  At any time, if you think this will adversely effect the safety of  your flight, you turn to remain safe.

you can not follow a SID if your plane is not equipped with avionics that will auto-sequence for you.  

tower or departure will let you 'proceed on course'  when appropriate.

at untowered airports, i wait until approximately 700 feet AGL.  just  habit - this is about where i would turn crosswind anyway - speaking of that, your departure should not interfere with arriving traffic, so don't turn on course through the traffic pattern.  also, if there are other airports in the vicinity, or controlled airspace nearby, they all factor in.

do what you consider safe!  which is your prerogative

our noise abatement procedure conflicts with safe instrument departures to the local VOR.  so if I'm in the soup, i turn - no sense going 3 miles off course and making some sort of strange turn to get back in those conditions.