I have a question relating to some of the UK departures from Heathrow (EGLL) and Gatwick (EGKK) that have been posted here. My understanding is that they should always start with a SID yet several start with a VOR (CPT and DVR) and one is DCT WOBUN. There are VORs at CPT and DVR but, for example, there are 4 DVR SIDs from Gatwick (EGKK) depending on the runway and take off direction. These are identified as DVR 8M, 2V, 2P and 2W . Should they not appear as, for example, DVR 8M rather than just DVR in the flight plans?Also, the UK Manual of Air Traffic Services Part 1 states:At aerodromes where standard instrument departure routes (SIDs) are designated any filed flight plan which specifies a non-standard route shall be referred back for correction.How is a DCT WOBUN permitted?The initial part of the SIDs are Noise Preferential Routes and compliance with them is required until the aircraft reaches at least 4000 ft when ATC may direct it off the SID.

For the purposes of the flightplans you see here on this forum, DCT WOBUN means the appropriate SID from the actual departure runway to WOBUN.Just because the SID designator is not shown does not mean the aicraft actually flies DCT, it does not.

But surely DCT WOBUN means fly direct to WOBUN waypoint? How can this be related to a WOBUN SID which should be WOBUN 2F, 2G, or 2H?WOBUN 2F from RWY 27R is:"Straight ahead to be established on BUR NDB QDM301 deg by LON d4. At LON d7 turn right onto BUR NDB QDR359 deg (MID VOR R360) to WOBUN"This is not DCT WOBUN.

That's right, the actual flightplan will state the specific SID (e.g. WOBUN2F WOBUN...) but some of the flightplans you find on here effectively start giving route details at the end of the SID, and are therefore labelled "DCT WOBUN" only because the actual SID flown to the first waypoint is not displayed.In reality, the flightplan will not actually say that.You are right to say that "DCT WOBUN" in a flightplan would mean exactly that.