I am supprised that nobody has discused the use of max angle of climb straight ahead initially before transition to best rate and turning to avoid the built up area "as best as possible".
With that runway length and the distance beyond the TODA, from a standing start and climbing at best angle of climb speed, how close is the aircraft to the houses when it reaches 300ft AGL?
The 500ft tradition is as far as I am aware a trow over from the IFR procedures with respect to omnidirectional departures and the interaction with the various obstacle surfaces surveyed in the vicinity of the aerodrome. However, when VFR, obstacles can be avoided visually and if necessary, a min ceiling and vis should be specified.
IMHO, the legal aspect of Rule 5 goes like this:
1. One is exempt from rule 5 while taking off and landing in accordance with normal aviation practice.
2. Nothing in the rule prevents the aircraft from changing track after lift off provided that the climb is continued to a safe height which if leaving the circuit will be above 500ft above people, obstacles etc or if remaining in the circuit will be above the visual manoeuvering height specified. Note that the visual manoeuvering height can often be below 500ft AGL but never less than 400ft AGL.
So put simply, one can do what one wants with regard to heading in the climb provided that the climb is continued to a height above 500ft unless one intends to reland back at the airfield in question.
If one is relanding at the departure aerodrome (doing a circuit), the end of the take-off phase ends at the point where the srart of the approach phase begins. Thus the aircraft in the circuit is at all times in the process of taking off or landing and exempt from Rule 5.
However, being exempt from Rule 5 does not give oneself an exemption from the recless operation llegislation!!!
With regard to Students, I am of the opinion that in this case, the timing of first solo in the sylabus could easily be adjusted to a later time when the student is more familiar with the aircraft and has reached a good proficiency level.
After all, as soon as they get their licence, they are entitled to take an aircraft with some passengers and do the "standard departure" everyone is so worried about.
Perhaps the airfield authority in conjunction with the operators should sit down and using nil wind and 20deg C, draw the various tracking options available and come up with the definitive safe answer for all users.
Regards,
DFC