Standard instrument departure
A Standard Instrument Departure ( SID ), in German standardized departure route for instrument flights , is a fixed route which aircraft with IFR flight plans can take off after take- off in order to get to an airway . A SID begins at the Departure End of Runway (DER) of the runway and leads along a specific route to a waypoint on an airway, after which the SID is usually also named. SIDs are planned and published by the air traffic control of the respective country (in Germany: DFS ), they are approved in Germany by the Federal Supervisory Office for Air Traffic Control (BAF) by implementing regulation (DVO). Their counterparts are the Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs).
The routes are defined by waypoints and radio navigation aids ( VORs , DMEs , NDBs ) in the region. In addition, minimum flight altitudes are shown, which guarantee safe crossing of obstacles. In the area of curves, maximum speeds are sometimes prescribed, as otherwise it would not be possible to keep to the route. When planning SIDs, noise and safety aspects are taken into account. In this way (also depending on the time) flying over towns or particularly sensitive plants (chemical plants, nuclear power plants) should be avoided. Depending on the traffic situation, flight plans and aircraft types, several alternative flight corridors are sometimes possible.
The use of SIDs makes staggering the aircraft much easier for air traffic control, but it still has to constantly monitor compliance with the minimum distances between the aircraft and compliance with the instructions given. In addition, the SIDs make it easier to issue route releases.