Narrative:

Night takeoff. After a short taxi; we waited at the end of runway 8R while a caravan took off in front of us from the other side of the runway. We were cleared to line up and wait at for an extended hold on the runway. I turned the strobes on and waited approximately 4 minutes when I queried the controller how long of a delay could we expect on the runway. The controller immediately took offense and said you can wait until I call you. I requested to exit the runway as it was a night operation and [company SOP] requires it. The tower controller gave us left B2; left B; short of H. The controller seemed stressed and irritated at my request to exit the runway for safety.approximately 2 minutes after holding at taxiway H; the same controller calls back and says to line up and wait on runway 8R. I asked him if we can expect a delay on the runway. He said I'm going to give you my phone number and you can call the tower supervisor now. I said I wasn't going to do that; as we were sterile. He gave the first officer the phone number. The controller said we are taking down your information and you can call later. We were then cleared back onto runway 8R for line up and wait; then a takeoff clearance heading 080 at the marker and climb and maintain 10000 feet.I was not comfortable with the extended delay on the runway at night to which the controller took offense when I queried him about the delay on an active runway with landing traffic on the adjacent runway 8L. I also considered that [another aircraft] has landed on a taxiway at the atlanta airport about the same time of night. [Company SOP] and FAA aim states; 'pilots should not hold for takeoff on the runway for more than two minutes without direct communication with ATC.' 'for extended delays; obtain clearance and taxi clear of the runway.' we far exceeded two minutes holding on the runway at night and we did receive clearance; after our request; to exit the active runway 8R.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737NG Captain was told to contact the Tower Supervisor after requesting to exit the runway after a lengthy line up and wait delay.

Narrative: Night takeoff. After a short taxi; we waited at the end of runway 8R while a Caravan took off in front of us from the other side of the runway. We were cleared to line up and wait at for an extended hold on the runway. I turned the strobes on and waited approximately 4 minutes when I queried the controller how long of a delay could we expect on the runway. The controller immediately took offense and said you can wait until I call you. I requested to exit the runway as it was a night operation and [company SOP] requires it. The tower controller gave us left B2; left B; short of H. The controller seemed stressed and irritated at my request to exit the runway for safety.Approximately 2 minutes after holding at taxiway H; the same controller calls back and says to line up and wait on Runway 8R. I asked him if we can expect a delay on the runway. He said I'm going to give you my phone number and you can call the tower supervisor now. I said I wasn't going to do that; as we were sterile. He gave the First Officer the phone number. The controller said we are taking down your information and you can call later. We were then cleared back onto Runway 8R for line up and wait; then a takeoff clearance heading 080 at the marker and climb and maintain 10000 feet.I was not comfortable with the extended delay on the runway at night to which the controller took offense when I queried him about the delay on an active runway with landing traffic on the adjacent Runway 8L. I also considered that [another aircraft] has landed on a taxiway at the Atlanta airport about the same time of night. [Company SOP] and FAA AIM states; 'Pilots should not hold for takeoff on the runway for more than two minutes without direct communication with ATC.' 'For extended delays; obtain clearance and taxi clear of the runway.' We far exceeded two minutes holding on the runway at night and we did receive clearance; after our request; to exit the active Runway 8R.

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.