B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 154
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
Departing out of uncontrolled SJC (Tower closed). We received PDC from SJC prior to closure; however; didn't push back/taxi until after Tower had closed. We assumed receiving PDC was adequate IFR clearance to takeoff and depart uncontrolled SJC airport. After takeoff and on initial contact with NORCAL Departure Control; NORCAL professionally advised us we needed to contact FSS or Departure Control prior to departure in order to coordinate for IFR departure.Possibly note in [manual] advising Aircrew that receipt of PDC does not equate to an adequate contact with FSS or Departure Control for IFR clearance to depart uncontrolled field. We queried this amongst ourselves in the cockpit; however we incorrectly assumed the PDC was an adequate clearance. Clearly it was not.
It was a long duty day that started more than an hour delayed; followed by a divert due weather; slow turns; a lightning strike; maintenance; multiple schedule changes; followed by more delays on our flight from SJC. It was a very long and eventful day.
B737 flight crew departed SJC after tower had closed without ATC clearance; thinking the PDC they received before tower closure was sufficient.