A319 flight crew reported a near mid-air collision with a helicopter during take-off.

Attributes
ACN	1650582
Time
Date	201905
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	SNA.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 181 Flight Crew Type 2086
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 162.53 Flight Crew Total 358.25 Flight Crew Type 358.25
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict NMAC

Narrative:

Sna tower advised us holding short runway 20R that we would be given an expedited takeoff after landing traffic. After position and hold clearance; sna tower clears helicopter on north ramp for takeoff and then also clears us for takeoff.I initially couldn't see the helicopter because of the center windscreen divider; but after 60 knots I picked up the helicopter gaining altitude about half way down runway just north of our intended track. My guess was helicopter came within 500 feet laterally and at our altitude of 200 ft. As we approached V1 speed; I mentioned to flying first officer (first officer) to look out for the helicopter. We continued on course without evasive action; but this event at this airport is unsatisfactory for 121 aircraft and performance runway issues. At altitude we both agreed this was very uncomfortable spacing and we have no formal training for low altitude separation maneuvering.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 flight crew reported a near mid-air collision with a helicopter during take-off.

Narrative: SNA Tower advised us holding short Runway 20R that we would be given an expedited takeoff after landing traffic. After position and hold clearance; SNA Tower clears helicopter on north ramp for takeoff and then also clears us for takeoff.I initially couldn't see the helicopter because of the center windscreen divider; but after 60 knots I picked up the helicopter gaining altitude about half way down runway just north of our intended track. My guess was helicopter came within 500 feet laterally and at our altitude of 200 ft. As we approached V1 speed; I mentioned to flying FO (First Officer) to look out for the helicopter. We continued on course without evasive action; but this event at this airport is unsatisfactory for 121 aircraft and performance runway issues. At altitude we both agreed this was very uncomfortable spacing and we have no formal training for low altitude separation maneuvering.

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.