Super King Air 300
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
Sitting at the approach end of the runway I received an IFR clearance. After receiving the clearance from Departure Control; I was told to hold on for a release. About 5 minutes went by and not hearing anything on the radio I called; and no one answered. Radio reception was a little weak on the field; so I thought I lost reception. I called Approach on my cell phone. When the controller answered he said he was still working on a release time; and to hold on. I was still holding on the phone when we heard the controller give a clearance to another pilot on the field with an EDT. of XA:50. At XA:25 I knew we had to be getting close; so I called; he gave me a release to be airborne in 3 minutes or less and we immediately took off. After departure we followed the IFR clearance; climbed to 3000 feet; flew runway heading. I contacted Departure Control and told them we were off and at 3000 feet. The controller then asked; are you on the ground. I replied; no I was at 3000 feet IFR. Then he asked; did you take off without a clearance? I replied no. He then said; call us at this phone number ###-###-####. I don't have time for you now; squawk 1200 maintain VFR. I will call you back. At this point we were trying to maintain VFR as best we could and climbed to 10500 feet to stay VFR. We then contacted the next Approach Control and received our clearance. After landing we called the number the controller gave us. They apologized; and said it was their mistake; the controller was working a few different aircraft and our release was mixed up with another aircraft. My biggest concern is with the Departure Controller. I understand he did not know we were coming. He also thought we departed without clearance. He should have never told us to maintain VFR conditions when we were already IFR and refused to give us service. He put us in a dangerous situation in one of the highest traffic areas of the country. In 35 years of IFR flying; I have never heard of a controller refusing service; even if the pilot was wrong.
A Pilot reported they departed with an IFR Clearance and when they checked on with Departure Control they were told to maintain VFR and their IFR clearance was not honored by ATC.