Corporate jet Captain reported the Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP) at WJF airport are confusing and non-standard and do not include necessary performance requirements to avoid terrain and obstructions.
Synopsis
Corporate jet Captain reported the Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP) at WJF airport are confusing and non-standard and do not include necessary performance requirements to avoid terrain and obstructions.
Narrative
Start-up and taxi out at WJF was uneventful. Weather was CAVU. On departure the tower issued the 'Fox obstacle departure' clearance which states: 'Departure Procedure Climb southeast on R-299 to PMD VORTAC. Depart PMD at published MCA for direction of flight.'Because I was departing on Runway 24 it seemed reasonable to intercept the R-299 and flight outbound on the 299 radial and climb to our assigned altitude of 7;000 feet and get subsequent headings from departure; which is how we proceeded. The procedure is confusing because it says to fly southeast on the R-299. Radials are typically flown outbound away from the station. It did not say to fly the R-119 southeast.There were no headings or MCA given in the departure description to provide guidance to comply with the instructions for a departure on either Runway 06 or Runway 24. Normally; because obstacle departures are keeping the aircraft clear of obstacles; the departure instructions are very explicit with climb rates per mile; headings; DMEs; and altitudes to reach prior to any turns. In the absence of those instructions I proceeded outbound on the R-299. To avoid confusion in the future; consideration should be given to rewriting the ODP (Obstacle Departure Procedures). One possible alternative would be to state:'Departing Runway 24 fly runway heading until XXX ft then turn right or left to intercept the R-199 southeast and climb to XXX ft.' 'Departing Runway 6 fly runway heading until XXX ft then turn right to intercept the R-199 southeast and climb to XXX ft.'If minimum climb rates are required they should be included in the departure description.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.