ATC handling caused cockpit confusion prior to takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	119298
Time
Date	198908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	ground : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	119298
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Initial clearance from tower was to 'cross 34R, cleared for immediate takeoff on 34L.' we crossed 34R west/O delay, but noted landing traffic for 34L was too close. We advised tower and takeoff clearance was cancelled. We held short of hold short line by 10-20'. After traffic landed, we were once again cleared for takeoff. As we crossed the hold short line, tower reclred us to hold our position, and 'all takeoff clrncs are cancelled.' we stopped immediately 10' past the line. Looking downfield, 6 fgt's crossed the departure course about 3/4 mi north of our runway. Tower requested we 'back up' to allow for landing traffic. We are not authority/authorized power-back; we held our position. Landing traffic was not a factor. The next clearance was to 'taxi into position and hold.' holding in position, we heard a light twin/commuter cleared to land on our runway (34L). He responded, 'if the plane on the runway doesn't roll, we'll have to go around.' tower then told him to go around. When he cleared the area, we were finally cleared for takeoff (and actually departed). Too much confusion for the tower operator and my crew. Several potential problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC HANDLING CAUSED COCKPIT CONFUSION PRIOR TO TKOF.

Narrative: INITIAL CLRNC FROM TWR WAS TO 'CROSS 34R, CLRED FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF ON 34L.' WE CROSSED 34R W/O DELAY, BUT NOTED LNDG TFC FOR 34L WAS TOO CLOSE. WE ADVISED TWR AND TKOF CLRNC WAS CANCELLED. WE HELD SHORT OF HOLD SHORT LINE BY 10-20'. AFTER TFC LANDED, WE WERE ONCE AGAIN CLRED FOR TKOF. AS WE CROSSED THE HOLD SHORT LINE, TWR RECLRED US TO HOLD OUR POS, AND 'ALL TKOF CLRNCS ARE CANCELLED.' WE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY 10' PAST THE LINE. LOOKING DOWNFIELD, 6 FGT'S CROSSED THE DEP COURSE ABOUT 3/4 MI N OF OUR RWY. TWR REQUESTED WE 'BACK UP' TO ALLOW FOR LNDG TFC. WE ARE NOT AUTH PWR-BACK; WE HELD OUR POS. LNDG TFC WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE NEXT CLRNC WAS TO 'TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD.' HOLDING IN POS, WE HEARD A LIGHT TWIN/COMMUTER CLRED TO LAND ON OUR RWY (34L). HE RESPONDED, 'IF THE PLANE ON THE RWY DOESN'T ROLL, WE'LL HAVE TO GO AROUND.' TWR THEN TOLD HIM TO GO AROUND. WHEN HE CLRED THE AREA, WE WERE FINALLY CLRED FOR TKOF (AND ACTUALLY DEPARTED). TOO MUCH CONFUSION FOR THE TWR OPERATOR AND MY CREW. SEVERAL POTENTIAL PROBS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.