A CORPORATE JET FLC DEPARTS THEIR NON TWR ARPT FOR A VFR PICK UP OF THE IFR CLRNC BUT FAILED TO SQUAWK A VFR CODE WHEN DOING SO AT UZA; SC.

Narrative

IFR FLT PLAN ROCK HILL (UZA) TO SHENANDOAH VALLEY (SHD). WHILE ON THE GND RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING IFR CLRNC ON THE REMOTE COM OUTLET (RCO); 'CLRED TO SHD BY-WAY-OF HUGO 5 DEP; ROBAY TRANSITION; PULASKI; MONTEBELLO; DIRECT. MAINTAIN 2500 FT. CONTACT DEP SQUAWKING XXXX. HOLD FOR RELEASE.' COMPLETED CHKLIST. SET RADIO AND XPONDER FOR DEP; THEN TRIED TO CONTACT CHARLOTTE APCH FOR RELEASE WITH NO SUCCESS. TOOK OFF VFR TO REMAIN OVER ROCK HILL BELOW 2500 FT TO CONTACT APCH WHILE AIRBORNE. DID NOT CHANGE XPONDER TO VFR CODE. THIS CAUSED CHARLOTTE APCH TO BELIEVE THE IFR DEP WAS MADE WITHOUT A RELEASE. CALLED CHARLOTTE APCH AFTER LNDG AT SHD TO EXPLAIN AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VFR DEP WAS OK BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE VFR CODE (1200). WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT COM ON SOME RCO'S IS NOT GOOD. CORRECTIVE ACTION: PLT -- USE APPROPRIATE XPONDER CODE. APCH CTL -- IF TOO BUSY TO ANSWER A COM CALL; ADVISE TO STANDBY TO LET THE CALLER KNOW THE XMISSION WAS HEARD. IF RCO CAUSES A CONTINUOUS GND CONTACT PROB; A GND LOCATION ON THE ARPT WHERE COM IS SUCCESSFUL SHOULD BE PUBLISHED BY THE ARPT MGR OR AN ANTENNA RELOCATION MAY POSSIBLY BE NEEDED.