IFR departures always requires a SID?
I'm writing a report for a local newspaper in Portugal about a local airport, which just had its lighting system certificated, and are claming they can receive night traffic. In Portugal you can't fly VFR at night, so you will need an IFR departure. I know in radar control you normally are given an instruction to fly direct a certain point just after departure, but then I assume the controller is taking responsibility for separation from terrain and other traffic and the clearance normally includes a SID. But what about conventional control, don't you need to follow a SID to be sure you are going to clear all obstacles in an IFR departure?
Basically my question is: Does an airport need to have a SID published in order for an airplane to take off under IMC?
Because if you depart in VMC you can maintain your own separation with terrain, but in IMC don't you need assurance that you will be flying an obstacle free path until reaching the MSA or MEA?
Tanks in advance
Best regards
Rui Medeiros