Air carrier X takeoff without IFR clearance.

Attributes
ACN	284636
Time
Date	199410
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pns
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ewr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Saab-Scania Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 5400 flight time type : 1880
ASRS Report	284636
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

My captain and I had competed all cockpit checks. When asked by him if I had obtained a clearance from departure or center (tower was still closed. I said, 'no,' and we both decided that we could get one in the air. Field was VFR, severe clear, tower not in operation. We believed the field was uncontrolled since no NOTAMS, charts, ATIS, etc. Said pensacola departure was owning the airspace. We launched, called departure control immediately at safe altitude, then were informed of our mistake. Apparently we needed a clearance to launch even though field had no operating control tower. We were not aware of this ruling. We believe the problem was caused by 1) not enough information given to the flcs of this unusual procedure in pns. 2) our lack of knowledge of pns departure control procedures. This is a big problem in pns and must be taken care of. We believed (and were taught) that a control zone is not in effect. Unless, tower is operational, and/or the field is IFR, or certain hours render it in effect. None applied here.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X TKOF WITHOUT IFR CLRNC.

Narrative: MY CAPT AND I HAD COMPETED ALL COCKPIT CHKS. WHEN ASKED BY HIM IF I HAD OBTAINED A CLRNC FROM DEP OR CTR (TWR WAS STILL CLOSED. I SAID, 'NO,' AND WE BOTH DECIDED THAT WE COULD GET ONE IN THE AIR. FIELD WAS VFR, SEVERE CLR, TWR NOT IN OP. WE BELIEVED THE FIELD WAS UNCTLED SINCE NO NOTAMS, CHARTS, ATIS, ETC. SAID PENSACOLA DEP WAS OWNING THE AIRSPACE. WE LAUNCHED, CALLED DEP CTL IMMEDIATELY AT SAFE ALT, THEN WERE INFORMED OF OUR MISTAKE. APPARENTLY WE NEEDED A CLRNC TO LAUNCH EVEN THOUGH FIELD HAD NO OPERATING CTL TWR. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RULING. WE BELIEVE THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY 1) NOT ENOUGH INFO GIVEN TO THE FLCS OF THIS UNUSUAL PROC IN PNS. 2) OUR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF PNS DEP CTL PROCS. THIS IS A BIG PROB IN PNS AND MUST BE TAKEN CARE OF. WE BELIEVED (AND WERE TAUGHT) THAT A CTL ZONE IS NOT IN EFFECT. UNLESS, TWR IS OPERATIONAL, AND/OR THE FIELD IS IFR, OR CERTAIN HRS RENDER IT IN EFFECT. NONE APPLIED HERE.

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.