Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 12; Flight Crew Total 595; Flight Crew Type 490
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
Departed SPG on an IFR flight plan. Instructions from SPG tower stated depart runway 07 turn left to 270 and climb to 1600 ft and then climb to 3000 ft and then 8000 ft. I departed and climbed to 1600 ft and immediately called ATC with no response; tried for another 5 min. With no response; I thought he was not able to hear me because we were too low; so I climb to my IFR flight plan instructions. Finally I was able to talk to the controller and he [gave me a phone number to call] with no instructions as why I had to call that number. Tried to call the number multiple times and the phone number is disconnected. This is the first time I have landed in SPG and did not get clear instructions from the tower and ATC did not respond to my calls for 5 or more minutes so I proceeded to my assigned IFR flight plan. I think the Air Traffic Controllers were overworked due to the temporary government shutdown and I did not get precise instructions from the tower.
Reporter stated; 'What should he have done?' ATC said he should have squawked 7600; but he could hear them and knew his radios worked. Reporter also stated this was going on during the furlough and he thought the Controller was overworked and handling too many aircraft. Reporter asked for someone to look into the airspace and try to fix it.
GA pilot reported being unable to reach ATC after departure; when radio contact was made; ATC advised the pilot of a possible deviation.