Learjet 35 flight crew reports receiving an IFR clearance via phone for an early am departure; prior...

Attributes
ACN	1203185
Time
Date	201409
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	VNY.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Learjet 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

We departed when the airport control tower was not in operation. The non flying pilot received an IFR clearance via a phone call to socal approach after departure; on our first communication to departure; ATC questioned us about our flight status. ATC asked if we departed VFR. The pilot monitoring had responded that we had departed IFR. ATC responded that we did not receive clearance to depart IFR and must have departed VFR. After this short conversation with ATC at the time no further action was taken and we continued our flight as planned. The pilot monitoring stated while receiving clearance for our flight he had not received any instructions to 'hold for release' or a 'clearance void time'. The pilot monitoring simply received an IFR clearance without any restrictions. PIC needs to verify clearance on the ground. If a clearance void time has not been given a return call to the controlling ATC facility must occur to verify we do in fact have a current valid IFR clearance to depart.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Learjet 35 flight crew reports receiving an IFR clearance via phone for an early AM departure; prior to engine start; and departing. ATC questions the crew about their clearance status; stating that they must be VFR because they are not IFR.

Narrative: We departed when the airport control tower was not in operation. The non flying pilot received an IFR clearance via a phone call to SoCal approach After departure; on our first communication to departure; ATC questioned us about our flight status. ATC asked if we departed VFR. The pilot monitoring had responded that we had departed IFR. ATC responded that we did not receive clearance to depart IFR and must have departed VFR. After this short conversation with ATC at the time no further action was taken and we continued our flight as planned. The pilot monitoring stated while receiving clearance for our flight he had not received any instructions to 'hold for release' or a 'clearance void time'. The pilot monitoring simply received an IFR clearance without any restrictions. PIC needs to verify clearance on the ground. If a clearance void time has not been given a return call to the controlling ATC facility must occur to verify we do in fact have a current valid IFR clearance to depart.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Learjet 35 flight crew reports receiving an IFR clearance via phone for an early am departure; prior to engine start; and departing. ATC questions the crew about their clearance status; stating that they must be VFR because they are not IFR.