Based on forecast winds, my IR checkride tomorrow will be done using runway 7 at KXLL. I've never used that runway, and when I looked up the departure procedure I (and my instructor) are not clear as to its meaning. So I could use your help in deciding what route to fly departing runway 7 when having to make a ca. 180 degree turn back to the west for the ETX VOR.
The DP reads: Rwy 7: climb heading 070 to 1800 before turning right, or for a climb in visual conditions; cross KXLL at or above 1900 before proceeding on course.
My question relates to the instruction to climb 070 to 1800 before turning right. I can interpret it in two ways. The simplest interpretation is that one must climb to 1800 on 070 then turn right whenever departing runway 7 in IMC. But that is the direction where the hills are. And 7/25 are left traffic at 1600, so a right turn at 1800 puts you flying head on towards airplanes on crosswind at only 200 ft above pattern altitude. It seems much safer to turn out to the left where the land is flat. Albeit that is towards KABE, but there is lots of room to make a 180 degree turn while staying well away from KABE. Plus you're talking to their Approach Controllers, so they are providing separation.
The other interpretation that I can see is that if one chooses to depart to the right (south), then one must climb to 1800 on 070. Otherwise, if one chooses to turn left, one can fly standard departure procedures (200 ft/nm until 400 ft before turning left), or some variant of that. That seems safer terrain-wise, pattern wise, and makes more sense to me.
So, which is it? Must I climb to 1800 then turn right? Or may I do a more usual left turn departure? And if we can't resolve this here, would it be an issue asking the examiner? I tried calling KXLL, but only got voice mail.
As always, thanks in advance.
The DP reads: Rwy 7: climb heading 070 to 1800 before turning right, or for a climb in visual conditions; cross KXLL at or above 1900 before proceeding on course.
My question relates to the instruction to climb 070 to 1800 before turning right. I can interpret it in two ways. The simplest interpretation is that one must climb to 1800 on 070 then turn right whenever departing runway 7 in IMC. But that is the direction where the hills are. And 7/25 are left traffic at 1600, so a right turn at 1800 puts you flying head on towards airplanes on crosswind at only 200 ft above pattern altitude. It seems much safer to turn out to the left where the land is flat. Albeit that is towards KABE, but there is lots of room to make a 180 degree turn while staying well away from KABE. Plus you're talking to their Approach Controllers, so they are providing separation.
The other interpretation that I can see is that if one chooses to depart to the right (south), then one must climb to 1800 on 070. Otherwise, if one chooses to turn left, one can fly standard departure procedures (200 ft/nm until 400 ft before turning left), or some variant of that. That seems safer terrain-wise, pattern wise, and makes more sense to me.
So, which is it? Must I climb to 1800 then turn right? Or may I do a more usual left turn departure? And if we can't resolve this here, would it be an issue asking the examiner? I tried calling KXLL, but only got voice mail.
As always, thanks in advance.
