Slc tower cleared a B737 for takeoff while the aircraft ahead was still on the runway. Then as the B...

Attributes
ACN	1149224
Time
Date	201402
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	SLC.Airport
State Reference	UT
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Ground Conflict Less Severe Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

Cleared into position and wait [runway] 16R and state whether aircraft ahead departing in sight. We replied the aircraft in sight. [We] cleared for takeoff as aircraft ahead lifting off. As soon as we were cleared for takeoff aircraft behind us instructed to line up and wait and call us in sight. We began our takeoff roll; approaching 70 KTS slc tower cleared the aircraft in position for takeoff. Our vr speed was 150 KTS and we were nearly full. Had we aborted it may have resulted in a catastrophic accident had the aircraft behind us not stopped as we were both occupying the same runway for an extended period of time as we accelerated toward vr. ATC [was] rushing to depart aircraft. There were no aircraft landing on our runway; only departures. An unsafe practice by slc tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SLC Tower cleared a B737 for takeoff while the aircraft ahead was still on the runway. Then as the B737 accelerated beyond 70 KTS; the following aircraft was cleared for takeoff. An abort would have caused a serious problem.

Narrative: Cleared into position and wait [Runway] 16R and state whether aircraft ahead departing in sight. We replied the aircraft in sight. [We] cleared for takeoff as aircraft ahead lifting off. As soon as we were cleared for takeoff aircraft behind us instructed to line up and wait and call us in sight. We began our takeoff roll; approaching 70 KTS SLC Tower cleared the aircraft in position for takeoff. Our Vr speed was 150 KTS and we were nearly full. Had we aborted it may have resulted in a catastrophic accident had the aircraft behind us not stopped as we were both occupying the same runway for an extended period of time as we accelerated toward Vr. ATC [was] rushing to depart aircraft. There were no aircraft landing on our runway; only departures. An unsafe practice by SLC Tower.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Slc tower cleared a B737 for takeoff while the aircraft ahead was still on the runway. Then as the B737 accelerated beyond 70 KTS; the following aircraft was cleared for takeoff. An abort would have caused a serious problem.