Narrative:

I arrived at prb and at that time the forward visibility at the airport was minimal but the sun could be seen thru breaks in the clouds. I again called hawthorne FSS to update my WX reports and to file an IFR flight plan to VFR on top, including the intent to follow an IFR departure procedure for northbound routing as indicated on the commercial approach plates. The FSS requested a clearance limit which I provided. The proposed departure time was given as midday, some 15 minutes away. I requested a departure frequency and was given ZOA on 128.7. After run-up, I announced my intentions to depart on the CTAF, took the runway and departed. Upon establishing contact with ZOA, I was queried as to who had given me clearance to depart. I responded that hawthorne FSS had. ZOA requested that I contact the area supervisor by telephone after reaching my destination. I told the area supervisor that considering the short time from my last call to the FSS and to the proposed departure time (15 mins), and the request by FSS for a clearance limit point, I had assumed a clearance had been given. I did notice that a 'void if not airborne time' advisory had not been issued but felt I would have been so advised if it were required. In hindsight, while reviewing the prb approach plate I observed a communications note of 'hawthorne radio 122.4', which at the time of departure did not ring a bell as hawthorne FSS. The frequency was not identified as a remote communications outlet (rco). It is recommended that when an rco frequency is depicted on an approach or departure plate, it be clearly identified as an rco to assist the pilot user.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT FILED IFR TO VFR ON TOP. DEPARTED UNCONTROLLED ARPT WITHOUT TKOF CLRNC.

Narrative: I ARRIVED AT PRB AND AT THAT TIME THE FORWARD VISIBILITY AT THE ARPT WAS MINIMAL BUT THE SUN COULD BE SEEN THRU BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS. I AGAIN CALLED HAWTHORNE FSS TO UPDATE MY WX REPORTS AND TO FILE AN IFR FLT PLAN TO VFR ON TOP, INCLUDING THE INTENT TO FOLLOW AN IFR DEP PROC FOR NBOUND ROUTING AS INDICATED ON THE COMMERCIAL APCH PLATES. THE FSS REQUESTED A CLRNC LIMIT WHICH I PROVIDED. THE PROPOSED DEPARTURE TIME WAS GIVEN AS MIDDAY, SOME 15 MINUTES AWAY. I REQUESTED A DEP FREQ AND WAS GIVEN ZOA ON 128.7. AFTER RUN-UP, I ANNOUNCED MY INTENTIONS TO DEPART ON THE CTAF, TOOK THE RWY AND DEPARTED. UPON ESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH ZOA, I WAS QUERIED AS TO WHO HAD GIVEN ME CLRNC TO DEPART. I RESPONDED THAT HAWTHORNE FSS HAD. ZOA REQUESTED THAT I CONTACT THE AREA SUPVR BY TELEPHONE AFTER REACHING MY DEST. I TOLD THE AREA SUPVR THAT CONSIDERING THE SHORT TIME FROM MY LAST CALL TO THE FSS AND TO THE PROPOSED DEP TIME (15 MINS), AND THE REQUEST BY FSS FOR A CLRNC LIMIT POINT, I HAD ASSUMED A CLRNC HAD BEEN GIVEN. I DID NOTICE THAT A 'VOID IF NOT AIRBORNE TIME' ADVISORY HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED BUT FELT I WOULD HAVE BEEN SO ADVISED IF IT WERE REQUIRED. IN HINDSIGHT, WHILE REVIEWING THE PRB APCH PLATE I OBSERVED A COMS NOTE OF 'HAWTHORNE RADIO 122.4', WHICH AT THE TIME OF DEP DID NOT RING A BELL AS HAWTHORNE FSS. THE FREQ WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AS A REMOTE COMS OUTLET (RCO). IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WHEN AN RCO FREQ IS DEPICTED ON AN APCH OR DEP PLATE, IT BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AS AN RCO TO ASSIST THE PLT USER.

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.