What should the PIC ensure when using SDPs for OEI departure planning?

When using Special Departure Procedures (SDPs) for One-Engine Inoperative (OEI) departure planning, ensuring that all-engine climb performance exceeds published gradients is crucial. This is because in the event of an engine failure during the critical phase of departure, the aircraft must maintain a safe trajectory and altitude to avoid hazards and obstacles in the vicinity.

The performance required is based on established safety criteria that dictate how steeply an aircraft can climb upon departure. If the aircraft’s performance exceeds these gradients, it enhances safety by allowing for a more favorable climb out, thus providing additional margin for dealing with any unexpected situations that may arise following an engine failure.

Other choices could relate to important considerations during flight planning, but the focus on ensuring climb performance meets or exceeds what is published directly addresses the core safety needs for OEI scenarios. Ultimately, this ensures a higher level of safety and operational integrity when executing a departure under these conditions.