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VFR Departure
Many a pilot has sat for a prolonged delay on the ground, waiting for an IFR clearance. In VFR weather, pilots sometimes elect to request a VFR departure from the tower or flight service station as a method of speeding up their departure. While this is sometimes an excellent option, here are a few points to consider before departing without an ATC clearance.
Be sure the weather is adequate to maintain VFR until a clearance is issued. ATC should issue a time or place to expect the clearance if a VFR departure is approved, however, circumstances change and there may be an unexpected delay in receiving the IFR clearance. Departing VFR in marginal weather conditions is not advisable.
The controller has the right to refuse authorization for a VFR departure. While it may not to make sense to the pilot at the time, there may be a stream of arrivals headed for the airport and that is the reason a clearance cannot be granted. If a pilot departs VFR into that stream of traffic, it can create difficulties keeping the aircraft separated whether IFR or VFR. It may make sense not to depart along a known corridor of heavy traffic.
To avoid a heavy stream of congested traffic, it may make sense to depart in a direction slightly off course of your intended destination. In a terminal environment, a controller needs 3 miles lateral separation and 5 miles in an enroute environment.
Departing VFR can offer an operational advantage to both the pilot and controller. However, it can lead to unforeseen problems if the pilot departs into areas of heavy traffic or in marginal weather conditions. Keep this in mind as you may not be able to count on the IFR clearance as soon as you expect.