Well Tim, et al, flying safety is enhanced by standard procedures. Under Airport Operations in the AIM in the first paragraph is this:
Hey, aren't you supposed to be up scribing protest messages on FlightAware?
This is true regardless of what you do though. And remember that no separation services are provided in Class D airspace (the majority of towered airports) and Class C separation for VFRs can be visual. Where the controller is concerned about separation, he's going to give you an instruction, not guess or assume what you're going to do.
And yet, I don't need approval to turn any direction I choose is Class C or D airspace unless I've received a contrary instruction, so the fact that other types of departures are "not approved" doesn't mean they are prohibited. So for all intents and purposes, "Left turn out approved," means, "You've said, or I think, you want to turn left, and I have no problem with that." Sure, if you plan to do something else, it'd be nice to let tower know that: "Actually, I'd like to turn right."
And there it is folks, an excellent example of non-careless and non-reckless operation.
I don't care what you call it. My point is the same.
What did you tell them when you called for taxi? What did you tell them when you called ready for takeoff?
Then you can disregard this?
At a towered airport, traffic isn't necessarily following a standard pattern, so it's fine to turn as soon as you're at a safe altitude unless the controller says otherwise.
It says "should be familiar with", so I guess you can close your eyes and not read it then. But now that you've read it, it also says, "adhere to for safe airport operations", so now you're stuck.
How was that for nuanced?
)
Was just going to post a very similar sentiment.
Ok, I'll give ya an "A" for arguing, but I know if I were the one who clipped someone's tail feathers, after I chandelled through their departure leg instead of remaining on my own, I wouldn't have to worry about counting my future aviation carbon credits—there wouldn't be any. YMMV.
The vast majority of towers in the US are not responsible for separation in the traffic pattern. So you're creating an artificial distinction between untowered and most towered fields. See and avoid.
Exactly — you don't know, so don't make assumptions either way. When I was based at the big international airport (CYOW), there would be up to 3 runways in use, and traffic flying every which way. You have the personal responsibility of see-and-avoid when you're in VMC, of course, but the controllers are the ones who do know where the traffic is, and they'll tell you if there's a possible conflict.
Who dat
Because we don't want the government to know everything we do!
It may depend on the size of the airport. I'm talking about what would be a class B airport in the U.S., with lots of airline traffic mixing with light pistons. ATC is running an intricate dance, and in my experience there, a suggestion will quickly be repeated as a firm instruction if you take too long over it, e.g. "Bravo juliet oscar - turn left NOW!"
It's hard to imagine myself doing something that would catch a controller off-guard, that's why I said, "If I were the one who..."
Exactly. And it's also true that tower will usually include the turn on course in your takeoff clearance, similar to what the OP posted at the start of this thread. If they care about where/when I turn, they'll tell me; otherwise, if they've just said "turn on course approved" or something like that, I usually turn at 400 ft AGL.