PC-12
Flight Crew Commercial
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related
We were waiting to depart IFR out of CVX behind a King Air which was on the line with clearance getting her release. The weather was nearly VFR at about 1800 AGL [broken] so we were on the phone with clearance as well; engines running; waiting in line behind the King Air. A Hawker pilot asked 'Pilatus; are you waiting to depart?' We said 'yes; we're just waiting for the King Air to depart and than we are getting our release.' The Hawker said; 'OK we'll just pull up next to you and wait' The King Air departed and we were about to get our release when the Hawker says; 'Pilatus; we're just going to go around you and depart VFR.' I asked; 'Are you going to activate your IFR in the air?' He says 'yes' and I said 'well; you're bumping us out of line; here; thanks a lot.' 'Well; you have to do what you got to do sometimes' the Hawker pilot says. As the Hawker is taking the active and taking off we get our release and depart IFR shortly after. We were maintaining visual with the VFR hawker while contacting Departure/Center. I received radar contact from Departure/Center and continued to keep the Hawker in visual contact while flying the assigned departure from clearance. I then lost visual with the Hawker who was now in the clouds not IFR with Departure/Center. At that point I didn't know if I had separation and was a little upset at the Hawker pilot(s) and said 'Visual in the clouds; thanks a lot guys; I can't see you.' Thinking back at it now I probably should not of said that but at that point I was pretty upset at this unprofessional pilot(s) of the Hawker. In the future I might hold a little longer on the ground; allow my release to expire and/or get a new release from Departure/Center; to give time for proper separation in the IFR environment even though other aircraft may mess up system and cut you off.
A PC-12 flight crew awaiting their IFR departure release from a non-towered airport expressed their umbrage at the pilot of a Hawker Jet that usurped their number one for takeoff position saying they were going to depart VFR and pick up their IFR clearance when airborne. The reporter's angst was increased when he watched the Hawker enter IMC without having obtained a clearance.