Travis Marlatte wrote:

- CC: Lake 3094P. Chicago Center. Radar Contact and I've got your clearance
when you're ready.
- Me: Lake 94P. Ready to copy.
- CC: Lake 3094P is cleared direct to the Flint VOR then D95. Climb
maintain 5000.



So. Was Chicago's initial read of my clearance also my clearance to proceed?

They asked if you were ready to copy, you said yes. Then they read you
your clearance. Pretty cut and dried.



Or, did they expect me to get a "release" from Grand Rapids.


ATC never issues a clearance and then has you get a release from AFSS.
That would make no sense as the release can only come from the guy who
just read you your clearance.





Even if they
did expect me to get the "release" from Grand Rapids, how would Grand Rapids
know that? Is there an originating entity indicated in the (presumably)
computerized flight strips?

Did I confuse Grand Rapids in my initial call?


Yes. Cleared to...is as clear as it gets.




After they gave me the
altimeter setting, was I too anxious? Do you think they would have come back
with instructions? Do you still call it a release? I have always thought of
it as a release from the airport. Is it really a release into the IFR system
whether from the surface or not?


You are making this way too hard. You received a clearance from a
controller. That's as good as it gets.