Narrative:

I was sic operating from sby to phl on an IFR flight plan during daylight, VMC conditions. We received our clearance from pxt clearance on 118.55. The clearance was as filed to maintain 5000 ft and hold for release. I called for our release from pxt approach on 127.45 and was advised to hold for an inbound aircraft doing a visual approach. I advised the captain of the instructions. The captain said we would take off VFR and pick up the IFR after airborne. I advised him that our operational specifications didn't permit this. He said that as long as we were VMC in VFR conditions within 10 mi of the airport we could. We accomplished the takeoff and departure with no problems or conflicts. We did advise sby radio that we were departing VFR and would pick up the IFR en route but did not advise department. On initial callup to pxt approach he accepted us with no comment about our departure. The rest of the flight was uneventful. I feel that the operations specifications should be written in a less ambiguous manner.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF AIRLINE OPERATIONAL PROCS AS SPECIFIED WITHIN THE OPERATIONAL SPECS FOR THE ACR.

Narrative: I WAS SIC OPERATING FROM SBY TO PHL ON AN IFR FLT PLAN DURING DAYLIGHT, VMC CONDITIONS. WE RECEIVED OUR CLRNC FROM PXT CLRNC ON 118.55. THE CLRNC WAS AS FILED TO MAINTAIN 5000 FT AND HOLD FOR RELEASE. I CALLED FOR OUR RELEASE FROM PXT APCH ON 127.45 AND WAS ADVISED TO HOLD FOR AN INBOUND ACFT DOING A VISUAL APCH. I ADVISED THE CAPT OF THE INSTRUCTIONS. THE CAPT SAID WE WOULD TAKE OFF VFR AND PICK UP THE IFR AFTER AIRBORNE. I ADVISED HIM THAT OUR OPERATIONAL SPECS DIDN'T PERMIT THIS. HE SAID THAT AS LONG AS WE WERE VMC IN VFR CONDITIONS WITHIN 10 MI OF THE ARPT WE COULD. WE ACCOMPLISHED THE TKOF AND DEP WITH NO PROBS OR CONFLICTS. WE DID ADVISE SBY RADIO THAT WE WERE DEPARTING VFR AND WOULD PICK UP THE IFR ENRTE BUT DID NOT ADVISE DEPT. ON INITIAL CALLUP TO PXT APCH HE ACCEPTED US WITH NO COMMENT ABOUT OUR DEP. THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. I FEEL THAT THE OPS SPECS SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN A LESS AMBIGUOUS MANNER.

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.