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CAT.POL.A.405 Take-off obstacle clearance

ANNEX IV (Part-CAT) · Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

IRImplementing rule

CAT.POL.A.405Take-off obstacle clearance

(a)The take-off flight path with OEI shall be determined such that the aeroplane clears all obstacles by a vertical distance of at least 50 ft plus 0,01 × D, or by a horizontal distance of at least 90 m plus 0,125 × D, where D is the horizontal distance the aeroplane has travelled from the end of the TODA. For aeroplanes with a wingspan of less than 60 m, a horizontal obstacle clearance of half the aeroplane wingspan plus 60 m plus 0,125 × D may be used.

(b)The take-off flight path shall begin at a height of 50 ft above the surface at the end of the take-off distance required by CAT.POL.A.400(b) or (c), as applicable, and end at a height of 1500 ft above the surface.

(c)When showing compliance with (a), the following shall be taken into account:

(1)the mass of the aeroplane at the commencement of the take-off run;

(2)the pressure altitude at the aerodrome;

(3)the ambient temperature at the aerodrome; and

(4)not more than 50 % of the reported headwind component or not less than 150 % of the reported tailwind component.

(d)Track changes shall not be allowed up to that point of the take-off flight path where a height of 50 ft above the surface has been achieved. Thereafter, up to a height of 400 ft it is assumed that the aeroplane is banked by no more than 15°. Above 400 ft height bank angles greater than 15°, but not more than 25°, may be scheduled. Adequate allowance shall be made for the effect of bank angle on operating speeds and flight path, including the distance increments resulting from increased operating speeds.

(e)For cases that do not require track changes of more than 15°, the operator does not need to consider those obstacles that have a lateral distance greater than:

(1)300 m, if the pilot is able to maintain the required navigational accuracy through the obstacle accountability area; or

(2)600 m, for flights under all other conditions.

(f)For cases that do require track changes of more than 15°, the operator does not need to consider those obstacles that have a lateral distance greater than:

(1)600 m, if the pilot is able to maintain the required navigational accuracy through the obstacle accountability area; or

(2)900 m, for flights under all other conditions.

(g)The operator shall establish contingency procedures to satisfy (a) to (f) and to provide a safe route, avoiding obstacles, to enable the aeroplane to either comply with the en-route requirements of CAT.POL.A.410, or land at either the aerodrome of departure or at a take-off alternate aerodrome.

IR · CAT.POL.A.405 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Regulation (EU) No 379/2014 · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC1 CAT.POL.A.405Take-off obstacle clearance

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EFFECT OF BANK ANGLES

(a)The AFM generally provides a climb gradient decrement for a 15° bank turn. Unless otherwise specified in the AFM or other performance or operating manuals from the manufacturer, acceptable adjustments to assure adequate stall margins and gradient corrections are provided by the following:

Table 1 Effect of bank angles

BankSpeedGradient correction
15°V21 x AFM 15° gradient loss
20°V2 + 5 kt2 x AFM 15° gradient loss
25°V2 + 10 kt3 x AFM 15° gradient loss

(b)For bank angles of less than 15°, a proportionate amount may be applied, unless the manufacturer or AFM has provided other data.

AMC · AMC1 CAT.POL.A.405 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2014/015/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC2 CAT.POL.A.405Take-off obstacle clearance

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REQUIRED NAVIGATIONAL ACCURACY

(a)Navigation systems The obstacle accountability semi-widths of 300 m and 600 m may be used if the navigation system under OEI conditions provides a two-standard deviation accuracy of 150 m and 300 m respectively.

(b)Visual course guidance

(1)The obstacle accountability semi-widths of 300 m and 600 m may be used where navigational accuracy is ensured at all relevant points on the flight path by use of external references. These references may be considered visible from the flight crew compartment if they are situated more than 45° either side of the intended track and with a depression of not greater than 20° from the horizontal.

(2)For visual course guidance navigation, the operator should ensure that the weather conditions prevailing at the time of operation, including ceiling and visibility, are such that the obstacle and/or ground reference points can be seen and identified. The operations manual should specify, for the aerodrome(s) concerned, the minimum weather conditions that enable the flight crew to continuously determine and maintain the correct flight path with respect to ground reference points, so as to provide a safe clearance with respect to obstructions and terrain as follows:

(i)the procedure should be well defined with respect to ground reference points so that the track to be flown can be analysed for obstacle clearance requirements;

(ii)the procedure should be within the capabilities of the aeroplane with respect to forward speed, bank angle and wind effects;

(iii)a written and/or pictorial description of the procedure should be provided for crew use; and

(iv)the limiting environmental conditions (such as wind, the lowest cloud base, ceiling, visibility, day/night, ambient lighting, obstruction lighting) should be specified.

AMC · AMC2 CAT.POL.A.405 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2014/015/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

All rules in SUBPART C: AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND OPERATING LIMITATIONS

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 27 Mar 2026, extracted 17 Aug 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.

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