Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 5580; Flight Crew Type 25
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
Instrument training flight departing from a non-towered airport. While in the run-up area at W29; Bay Bridge Airport; I directed my student to contact Potomac Approach and obtain an IFR clearance. He connected with Potomac via cell phone and obtained the clearance. I verified the clearance he copied then asked if we were provided a 'Not off by time' or 'Void time' and my student said; 'No.' I therefore assumed we were cleared us for IFR release. We departed W29 in VMC conditions and complied with the clearance. During initial contact with Potomac once airborne; the controller seemed surprised we were checking on with IFR procedures because she asked if we were given a release or void time; my student replied with 'No.' She asked if we were VMC and we confirmed we were in VMC conditions. The controller then provided us an IFR clearance direct to SBY at 5;000. She told us next time on initial call-up when trying to obtain an IFR clearance to state we are VMC and requesting the clearance. Looking back; I should have more aggressively reviewed the clearance my student copied. Since he spoke with Potomac via cell phone; I could not monitor the call. I should have ensured that Potomac provided the 'Cleared for release' statement. In this case; I don't think Potomac provided either a cleared for release or void time.
Instructor and IFR Student pilot depart uncontrolled airport without a release from TRACON controllers working the airport.