Guys, thanks for your contributions to the issue.
john_tullamarine,
I 100% agree with you about the responsibility of the commander and if any doubts arise just follow the EOSID. As well do I agree about the responsibility of the ops performance people and the joint responsibility of operator and the commander, although it does depend on the law. However the book differs between the standard EOSID which is basically straight ahead until 1500 ft above AGL clean up and proceed to specific nav. aid in order to return to the field and special EOSID which contains specific lateral escape route in order to clear the obstacles and of course to return back. The problem is that for each and every airdrome we operate there is either EOSID or special EOSID for the commercial reason (mentioned above) and there is no description when or under which conditions we have to follow it. The preamble only says, that EOSID and special EOSID guarantee the obstacle clearance. However it only becomes relevant if you can’t meet 3,3 % standard climb gradient or higher gradient required by SID. So, in average we are talking about 1000 ft/min climb rate, which corresponds to 5% climb gradient for the average speed of 200 kt. on the departure. That’s my criteria to decide, whether I will meet the requirements or not, in other words if I can maintain 1000 ft climb rate for the given conditions, than I will clear all the obstacle for the departure with max. 5% climb gradient. If I can’t, I will follow EOSID dependable on the airdrome, of course. E.g. departure takes you over the water, no need to follow the EOSID, although its there, or departure takes over the city with high, man made, obstacles, consider to follow EOSID again dependable on the performance. The actual problem stars with the coordination of following the special EOSID with ATC (ATC doesn’t have a copy of the EOSID), what I mean is for instance parallel runway operation in the States. Sometimes your EOSID conflicts with the departing and arriving traffic, so the question is, what is more dangerous to follow the SID or the OESID?
As a conclusion, I would say, dependable on the airdrome, conflicting traffic and prevailing conditions like your take off weight atmospheric conditions and obstacle clearance restrictions, required climb gradient, the decision whether to follow or not the EOSID or special EOSID rests with the commander.
Hope I am right somehow.
Cheers.