PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 3
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Human Factors; Procedure
I called SCT for a release. They said 'hold for release' but all I heard was 'release'. I departed the aircraft without a release and SCT called to ask why he was airborne. I did not observe any conflicting IFR traffic. Change the phraseology from 'hold for release' to 'hold'. If frequencies or controllers are loud you might miss the hold part of the communication. This phraseology doesn't make any sense. Would we make the cancel takeoff phraseology 'cancel cleared for takeoff'? Of course not.
VNY Tower Controller reports of releasing an IFR aircraft off the airport when he was instructed by the overlying TRACON to hold for release.