Narrative:

During a night operation, the tower cleared us for takeoff on 26R. While taxiing onto the runway, we observed an aircraft crossing the departure end of our runway at approximately 500 ft AGL. Prior to our setting takeoff thrust, the aircraft turned left and appeared to be departing the area to the south. After reaching vr, the aircraft reappeared slightly to the left of our centerline, near the departure end at 400-500 ft AGL. Up to this time, ATC had not advised us of any traffic. During initial climb out we passed within 300 ft AGL. The SID procedure calls for a left turn, sbound after departure. Had we not seen the helicopter and engaged LNAV to begin our turn as published, a mid-air could have occurred. Upon questioning the tower about the proximity of the traffic, the tower stated that the helicopter had us in sight. Again, however, we were not advised of this traffic. I contacted the tower supervisor after reaching our destination. The supervisor stated he had received a message from the on-duty controller in reference to the occurrence. The supervisor informed us he would discuss the issue with the controller to ensure a safer operation by issuing TAS to both aircraft when in close proximity.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DEP ACR COMPLAINS ABOUT A ROTARY WING ACFT OPERATING OFF THE END OF RWY.

Narrative: DURING A NIGHT OP, THE TWR CLRED US FOR TKOF ON 26R. WHILE TAXIING ONTO THE RWY, WE OBSERVED AN ACFT XING THE DEP END OF OUR RWY AT APPROX 500 FT AGL. PRIOR TO OUR SETTING TKOF THRUST, THE ACFT TURNED L AND APPEARED TO BE DEPARTING THE AREA TO THE S. AFTER REACHING VR, THE ACFT REAPPEARED SLIGHTLY TO THE L OF OUR CENTERLINE, NEAR THE DEP END AT 400-500 FT AGL. UP TO THIS TIME, ATC HAD NOT ADVISED US OF ANY TFC. DURING INITIAL CLB OUT WE PASSED WITHIN 300 FT AGL. THE SID PROC CALLS FOR A L TURN, SBOUND AFTER DEP. HAD WE NOT SEEN THE HELI AND ENGAGED LNAV TO BEGIN OUR TURN AS PUBLISHED, A MID-AIR COULD HAVE OCCURRED. UPON QUESTIONING THE TWR ABOUT THE PROX OF THE TFC, THE TWR STATED THAT THE HELI HAD US IN SIGHT. AGAIN, HOWEVER, WE WERE NOT ADVISED OF THIS TFC. I CONTACTED THE TWR SUPVR AFTER REACHING OUR DEST. THE SUPVR STATED HE HAD RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE ON-DUTY CTLR IN REF TO THE OCCURRENCE. THE SUPVR INFORMED US HE WOULD DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH THE CTLR TO ENSURE A SAFER OP BY ISSUING TAS TO BOTH ACFT WHEN IN CLOSE PROX.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.