Citation Excel (C560XL)
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 2.0
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
I was working the Flight Data sector when JYO called for a clearance for Aircraft X. Traffic Management Expect Departure Clearance (EDCT) times were in effect; and I received a time for Aircraft X that was 30 minutes from the current time. I relayed this to JYO and they issued the clearance. The JYO Letter of Agreement states that releases must go through the departure sector. JYO apparently forgot this and launched Aircraft X without a release from the sector. This was a full 30 minutes after they had received the EDCT time. Any controller that has been around more than a minute should understand the difference between an EDCT time and a Release time. The JYO test tower has been nothing but a nightmare. They spin IFR arrival aircraft. They delay inbounds because they cannot accept 'opposite direction' IFR arrivals. The procedures handicap the arrival sector. The controllers there consistently try to apply things like tower applied visual separation; which they are not allowed to do. JYO's proximity to IAD makes this a dangerous spot for a 'test' remote tower. This was a bad idea from the start and I believe that there will be a serious incident sooner or later because of the existence of this tower. To solve this particular issue with the EDCT time; JYO should be required to call TMU to get EDCT times for departures.
TRACON Controller reported the JYO Tower allowed an aircraft to depart before the Expect Departure Clearance Time.