Jfk controller described a confused take off event when an air carrier initiated a take off without ...

Narrative:

An A320 was in position on runway 4L; a B757 was in position on runway 31L ke intersection. I issued the B757 takeoff clearance; the A320 took the B757 clearance and did read it back with his call sign. The B757 immediately asked for a confirmation of the take off clearance. I then restated the B757's clearance to take off. He then stated that he someone else took his take off clearance. At this point I noticed the A320 had begun his departure roll on runway 4L. He may have gone a hundred feet down the runway when he stopped and asked if he was cleared for take off. I stated that I did not clear him for take off but he was at this time now cleared for take off. There was no loss of separation or possibility of it. The A320 and the B757 both departed with no further issues. Pilots and controllers must be more aware of hear back read back errors. I did not realize that the A320 read back the B757 clearance. I heard what I thought was the B757 acknowledging the clearance. The call signs were similar but not similar enough that I pointed them out to both pilots. The A320 heard what he was waiting to hear even though the clearance was not for him.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: JFK Controller described a confused take off event when an Air Carrier initiated a take off without being cleared; confused by another another Air Carrier's clearance departing an intersecting runway.

Narrative: An A320 was in position on Runway 4L; a B757 was in position on Runway 31L KE Intersection. I issued the B757 takeoff clearance; the A320 took the B757 clearance and did read it back with his call sign. The B757 immediately asked for a confirmation of the take off clearance. I then restated the B757's clearance to take off. He then stated that he someone else took his take off clearance. At this point I noticed the A320 had begun his departure roll on Runway 4L. He may have gone a hundred feet down the runway when he stopped and asked if he was cleared for take off. I stated that I did not clear him for take off but he was at this time now cleared for take off. There was no loss of separation or possibility of it. The A320 and the B757 both departed with no further issues. Pilots and controllers must be more aware of hear back read back errors. I did not realize that the A320 read back the B757 clearance. I heard what I thought was the B757 acknowledging the clearance. The call signs were similar but not similar enough that I pointed them out to both pilots. The A320 heard what he was waiting to hear even though the clearance was not for him.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1016055
Time
Date	201206
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	JFK.Airport
State Reference	NY
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 230 Flight Crew Total 8027 Flight Crew Type 3000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Jfk controller described a confused take off event when an air carrier initiated a take off without being cleared; confused by another another air carrier's clearance departing an intersecting runway.