Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 16000; Flight Crew Type 2000
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
Departing NEW at night. Tower was unexpectedly closed. Contacted MSY APCH via RCO (Remote Communication Outlets). Received clearance; Controller did say hold for release but then upon my read back did not say contact him prior to or when number one which is standard. I departed VFR and leveling at 2000 ft contacted same controller on departure frequency. He asked if I was airborne; I said I was; and he then told me that I should have contacted him for a void time clearance. He later said that I should always contact ATC from a satellite facility for a void time clearance. I was VFR and following his clearance but in hindsight I should have contacted. His nonuse of standardized phraseology and the cold and windy conditions were factors in this.
Pilot receives IFR clearance while on the ground. Controller tells pilot to hold for release. Pilot departs airport VFR. Pilot gets chastised for departing the airport by ATC.