grimey wrote:If you depart VFR in VMC without a VFR departure approval, that's fine. But the ACC may not be able to get you a clearance for quite a while, so I hope you're happy at 12,500, or wherever the bases are,
Try 700' AGL or 2200' AGL. I haven't heard of a place that gives a VFR release if it's uncontrolled to 12,500' or FL180.
Zatopec..
ATS will file a report for any IFR aircraft that takes-off without and IFR clearance of a VFR departure approval.
Filing a report is not an indication that an aircraft violated a rule. If there was a rule that was broken then TC can use the CADOR as a reference but a CADOR is not automatically an indication that a rule was broken.
In order to depart VFR in VMC it must receive an VFR departure approval from ATC. Other options are to cancel the IFR flight plan and change it to a VFR, or proceed under a VFR company note.
No such thing as a "VFR company note" even though it still abounds in use by pilots and ATC.
I've got MANOPS with the ATCD 2014-1 amendment and nowhere does it mention what a "company note" is. The latest TC AIM also does not have "company note" anywhere in it.
There is no requirement anymore for ATC to confirm that an aircraft is traveling on a VFR itinerary before closing their IFR flight plan (see the 404.1 Note below). As long as you are in, a) uncontrolled airspace in VMC or IMC, or b) in controlled airspace in VMC (Class E), you may close your IFR flight plan with ATC.
There are two options a pilot has: 1) to
cancel IFR - changing to a VFR flight and keeping the flight plan; or 2) to
close the
flight plan.
To eliminate confusion I recommend using the word "cancel" with "IFR" and the word "close" with "flight plan". You
cancel a clearance and you
close a flight plan.
So, when you as the pilot call ATC, all you need to say is either: 1)
"...cancel IFR, keep alerting."; or 2)
"...close the flight plan."
The 'keep alerting' part is added because ATC will ask if you want to close the flight plan once you tell them to cancel IFR. This eliminates unnecessary chatter.
There is no need to say: "...cancel IFR and proceed VFR company note." What you are actually doing is just closing the flight plan.
This does not change the requirement to have an itinerary with someone (usually your company) before you close your flight plan with ATC.
Old habits die hard but that's one thing I'd really like to see die!
Here is the excerpt from the current issue of MANOPS:
http://i.imgur.com/d2cpDF8.png