Medium large transport took off without obtaining ATC airways clearance.

Attributes
ACN	246507
Time
Date	199307
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	246507
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During departure we realized we had failed to obtain a copy of our ATC clearance -- either verbally, or as a pre departure clearance. We had just flown 2 aircraft equipped with touch screen ACARS which allow receipt of pre departure clearance in cockpit. Our gate agents usually provide computer printed pre departure clearance with paperwork. Other pilot got up to use restroom after we completed checklist with intent to walk out to gate area and pick up pre departure clearance but was distracted with passenger question. It was evident that we in fact had a clearance after discussion with departure control, but we did depart without a copy of the clearance. This incident reemphasizes the need for strict checklist discipline and procedural thoroughness. When before start checklist called for 'transponder' we should have stopped there until we had the proper setting -- available only from a clearance!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG TOOK OFF WITHOUT OBTAINING ATC AIRWAYS CLRNC.

Narrative: DURING DEP WE REALIZED WE HAD FAILED TO OBTAIN A COPY OF OUR ATC CLRNC -- EITHER VERBALLY, OR AS A PDC. WE HAD JUST FLOWN 2 ACFT EQUIPPED WITH TOUCH SCREEN ACARS WHICH ALLOW RECEIPT OF PDC IN COCKPIT. OUR GATE AGENTS USUALLY PROVIDE COMPUTER PRINTED PDC WITH PAPERWORK. OTHER PLT GOT UP TO USE RESTROOM AFTER WE COMPLETED CHKLIST WITH INTENT TO WALK OUT TO GATE AREA AND PICK UP PDC BUT WAS DISTRACTED WITH PAX QUESTION. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT WE IN FACT HAD A CLRNC AFTER DISCUSSION WITH DEP CTL, BUT WE DID DEPART WITHOUT A COPY OF THE CLRNC. THIS INCIDENT REEMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR STRICT CHKLIST DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURAL THOROUGHNESS. WHEN BEFORE START CHKLIST CALLED FOR 'XPONDER' WE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THERE UNTIL WE HAD THE PROPER SETTING -- AVAILABLE ONLY FROM A CLRNC!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.