One thing to add. Call only when #1 at the runway. If your behind someone and get cleared out, it could get sticky.A couple of ways to do it:
1) Call FSS on the phone or radio. They will phone the local control agency and relay your clearance
2) Remote Communications Outlet. You key your mic a specific number of times and it connects you to the local control agency through a landline. Almost like making a phone call from your airplane radio
3) Call the local control agency themselves. AOPA has a listing of all the towers in the US. If you are flying in, knowing you won't be able to reach ATC on the radio when you're ready to depart again, ask the approach controller for the phone number to call when you're ready to pick up your outbound clearance.
4) If the weather is VMC and company policy allows it, depart VFR and pick up your IFR in the air. Might not be a great idea if you aren't able to handle a high workload though.
a PIC Instrument instructor
One thing to add. Call only when #1 at the runway. If your behind someone and get cleared out, it could get sticky.
One thing to add. Call only when #1 at the runway. If your behind someone and get cleared out, it could get sticky.
While I'd agree with your opinion, I've had situations where controllers don't tell me to call them when I'm number one. Instead, they issue a void time.When I pick up an IFR on the ground at a non-towered airport, the controller specifically says "...readback correct, advise me when you're number one for the runway for your release."
A good controller should never release an airplane until he is sure the airplane is in a position to make an immediate take off. I have seen some operators sitting on the ramp with a GPU still hooked up, with the copilot sitting in the right seat picking up the clearance, and the captain is still inside in the pilot lounge taking a nap. Thats not necessarily when the controller should release the flight.
While I'd agree with your opinion, I've had situations where controllers don't tell me to call them when I'm number one. Instead, they issue a void time.
That's not always a very efficient was to do things, though.For this reason, I now only call when I'm at the end of the runway.