Narrative:

Aircraft X was inbound from grace intersection on a vector for the ILS RWY28L at pit. Coordination and point out via automation for descent of aircraft X to 4000 [feet] for icing was accomplished with ds (departure) position. Aircraft X was level at 4000 MSL just east of btp airport when I observed a fast moving target departing btp airport squawking VFR and climbing toward aircraft X. I inquired to ds if they were talking to the target. Ds stated that someone was calling them right now (this was yelled across the room due to urgency).conflict alert activate as the traffic pass less than a mile at the same altitude and behind aircraft X. Ds tagged the aircraft VFR as aircraft Y who subsequently requested VFR flight following to ZZZ.aircraft X stated urgently as the traffic was issued that they were IMC. Aircraft Y call sign routinely depart btp airport requesting IFR in the air when there is a rco at btp to safely pick up the clearance. In this case; I believe the aircraft was illegally operating in IMC conditions VFR. Have the local FSDO with jurisdiction; contact the company and have a safety discussion about operations using IFR rco; the effects on controller workload and coordination. In addition; investigate and follow up on the actions of the crew of aircraft Y. I bet they bust VFR weather minimums routinely with a big sky theory attitude; but would be surprised when they see a replay of how close they were to the other aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIT TRACON Controller reported an airborne conflict with an IFR aircraft and a VFR aircraft that may have been VFR in IFR conditions.

Narrative: Aircraft X was inbound from GRACE intersection on a vector for the ILS RWY28L at PIT. Coordination and point out via automation for descent of Aircraft X to 4000 [feet] for icing was accomplished with DS (Departure) position. Aircraft X was level at 4000 MSL just east of BTP airport when I observed a fast moving target departing BTP airport squawking VFR and climbing toward Aircraft X. I inquired to DS if they were talking to the target. DS stated that someone was calling them right now (this was yelled across the room due to urgency).Conflict alert activate as the traffic pass less than a mile at the same altitude and behind Aircraft X. DS tagged the aircraft VFR as Aircraft Y who subsequently requested VFR flight following to ZZZ.Aircraft X stated urgently as the traffic was issued that they were IMC. Aircraft Y call sign routinely depart BTP airport requesting IFR in the air when there is a RCO at BTP to safely pick up the clearance. In this case; I believe the aircraft was illegally operating in IMC conditions VFR. Have the local FSDO with jurisdiction; contact the company and have a safety discussion about operations using IFR RCO; the effects on controller workload and coordination. In addition; investigate and follow up on the actions of the crew of Aircraft Y. I bet they bust VFR weather minimums routinely with a big sky theory attitude; but would be surprised when they see a replay of how close they were to the other aircraft.

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.