When departing IFR, when do I switch from Tower to Departure?

Question

When departing IFR from a Class D airport, must you wait until the Tower instructs you to change to Departure?

Answer 1

When operating within class D airspace (operating Air Traffic Control Tower) pilots are to maintain communication with the tower until instructed otherwise.

On an IFR flight departing from a tower controlled airport, the tower controller will instruct the pilot when to change frequency to contact the next controller (the IFR Departure Controller). Remain on the current frequency until instructed to change.

Here is an except from the pertinent regulation (FAR Part 91):

§91.129 Operations in Class D airspace.

2) Departing flight. Each person—

(i) From the primary airport or satellite airport with an operating control tower must establish and maintain two-way radio communications with the control tower, and thereafter as instructed by ATC while operating in the Class D airspace area;

Note: It should be noted however, that in the U.S., departing IFR military turboprop/turbojet aircraft (except transport and cargo types) will be instructed to "change to departure control frequency" before takeoff. [ref:FAA JO 7110.65, paragraph 3-9-3 a. 2.]

This requirement allows pilots of single-seat high-performance aircraft, as well as certain other military aircraft, the ability to avoid being distracted by changing to another (e.g., departure control) frequency immediately after takeoff. Further, many military fighter type aircraft used to have (probably some still do) radios positioned in the cockpit in a location that requires looking down or moving the pilot's head/eyes in such a manner that might cause momentary disorientation, which is not a good idea right after takeoff and close to the ground.

U.S. military control towers and some (perhaps most) joint-use military/civilian control towers have an "override" frequency (same frequency as the departure controller uses), for use in case some emergency situation that occurs just before, during, or immediately after departure requires urgent communication with the pilot (e.g., engine fire on takeoff noted by the tower, or similar type situation).

Answer 2

You should never leave a control frequency without an explicit instruction to do so. This can be a literal instruction (the controller telling you to contact another unit/frequency), or a procedure described in the AIP. For example, at some airports, a part of the description of the standard instrument departures read "When passing 1000 ft, contact Departure on 124.975" or similar. Here is an example from Copenhagen, Denmark:

Unless such a procedure is in place, you wait until the tower changes you to the next frequency. That's the beauty of flying as a controlled flight - you don't need to worry about which frequency you should be on, the current controller will always hand you over to the next one when required.

Answer 3

Yes, no frequency changes until instructed.
(unless previously requested and approved, which seems unlikely on an IFR departure)

The phrase is typically, "N12345, Over to Departure. G'day"

Answer 4

Since you are IFR, in your question, you do as told. Which means as instructed or as cleared. If a SID is applicable, you conform to the SID, unless cleared otherwise.

If you are VFR, which you said you were not, then the game is different. In general the do as instructed / cleared applies, but some new nuances come into play.

For example, VFR, you need only maintain tower com while in Class D, so leaving Class D, you can go where you want. May not be considered polite, but if you think you are forgotten, and they are really busy, you might just go. They will see that you checked in with departure at most facilities.

Common courtesy is to let the tower hand you off, or prompt them for a hand off.