Originally Posted by
MikeHatter732
....and then what happens when someone calls up the FSS for a clearance on the ground (which may I add, is the recommended and most commonly used method in the States)...
Anyone who has done some flying over there knows that the pilot will be issued a clearance, given a clearance void time, and until that time, that uncontrolled aerodrome is treated as one in-one out for all aircraft IFR/SVFR going in...
I bet you wouldn't like to be told that you can't go into Bathurst because a training Duchess has just called up for a clearance and has effectively closed the surrounding Class E @ BTH for all IFR and SVFR a/c.
The point you're missing here is that even though someone on the ground has picked up an IFR clearance, if VFR conditions exist, I may still opt to depart VFR, even though I may have filed an IFR clearance.