Narrative:

My first officer received clearance to toledo, ohio at approximately xy:40 local (EST) from huntsville ground control. On discussion of our departure, the first officer noted local time as being xy:45 hours (EST) or xy:45 zulu, so we determined the tower would be closed prior to our departure (tower closes at midnight). At Y:30 zulu, our flight started our taxi and announced our departure runway (36L), and our crossing of runway 36R on frequency 119.7. After completing our taxi and takeoff checklists, and shortly before takeoff, the first officer announced that we were taking the runway 36L for departure. No reply from ATC or any air traffic was received on frequency 119.7. After departure, the first officer switched to frequency 120.8 to contact memphis center. He announced our climb through 2000 ft to 5000 ft. After what seemed like a moment of confusion, memphis center replied that we should contact huntsville approach. We then stated that huntsville local ATC was closed. Memphis replied that it was still open. The first officer then contacted huntsville approach, and we immediately learned of our departure without a clearance. The flight proceeded normally after this. I see the main contributing factors as follows: 1. The crew did not have a positive indication on our watches to verify the local time, and did not question the first officer who earlier stated his watch is always set to eastern. 2. Huntsville tower did not answer to our announcements of intentions. I recommend: 1. All flight crew should verify individually the proper zulu time in relation to takeoff time as well as the proper local time, and compare with ATC hours of operation. 2. ATC facilities should remain open in accordance to and for the accommodation of the volume of traffic they receive.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTHORIZED UNCOORD RWY ENTRY AND TKOF.

Narrative: MY FO RECEIVED CLRNC TO TOLEDO, OHIO AT APPROX XY:40 LCL (EST) FROM HUNTSVILLE GND CTL. ON DISCUSSION OF OUR DEP, THE FO NOTED LCL TIME AS BEING XY:45 HRS (EST) OR XY:45 ZULU, SO WE DETERMINED THE TWR WOULD BE CLOSED PRIOR TO OUR DEP (TWR CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT). AT Y:30 ZULU, OUR FLT STARTED OUR TAXI AND ANNOUNCED OUR DEP RWY (36L), AND OUR XING OF RWY 36R ON FREQ 119.7. AFTER COMPLETING OUR TAXI AND TKOF CHKLISTS, AND SHORTLY BEFORE TKOF, THE FO ANNOUNCED THAT WE WERE TAKING THE RWY 36L FOR DEP. NO REPLY FROM ATC OR ANY AIR TFC WAS RECEIVED ON FREQ 119.7. AFTER DEP, THE FO SWITCHED TO FREQ 120.8 TO CONTACT MEMPHIS CTR. HE ANNOUNCED OUR CLB THROUGH 2000 FT TO 5000 FT. AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE A MOMENT OF CONFUSION, MEMPHIS CTR REPLIED THAT WE SHOULD CONTACT HUNTSVILLE APCH. WE THEN STATED THAT HUNTSVILLE LCL ATC WAS CLOSED. MEMPHIS REPLIED THAT IT WAS STILL OPEN. THE FO THEN CONTACTED HUNTSVILLE APCH, AND WE IMMEDIATELY LEARNED OF OUR DEP WITHOUT A CLRNC. THE FLT PROCEEDED NORMALLY AFTER THIS. I SEE THE MAIN CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AS FOLLOWS: 1. THE CREW DID NOT HAVE A POSITIVE INDICATION ON OUR WATCHES TO VERIFY THE LCL TIME, AND DID NOT QUESTION THE FO WHO EARLIER STATED HIS WATCH IS ALWAYS SET TO EASTERN. 2. HUNTSVILLE TWR DID NOT ANSWER TO OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS OF INTENTIONS. I RECOMMEND: 1. ALL FLC SHOULD VERIFY INDIVIDUALLY THE PROPER ZULU TIME IN RELATION TO TKOF TIME AS WELL AS THE PROPER LCL TIME, AND COMPARE WITH ATC HRS OF OP. 2. ATC FACILITIES SHOULD REMAIN OPEN IN ACCORDANCE TO AND FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF THE VOLUME OF TFC THEY RECEIVE.

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.