Thought cleared for takeoff but meant for aircraft holding on taxiway.

Attributes
ACN	190837
Time
Date	199110
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl
State Reference	PA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	190837
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : rejected takeoff
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We (air carrier X) were cleared into position on runway 27L at phl. A air carrier Y heavy had just departed 27L, but, well clear of the airport. Tower transmitted air carrier X cleared for immediate takeoff, aircraft short final. The first officer released the brakes and started the power up. I put my hand over the throttles to keep them from going up to takeoff power and asked the tower if they were clearing air carrier X on 27L for takeoff. They said 'negative' we had only moved a few ft, but I requested to taxi down the active for another full length takeoff. No other problems occurred. The tower operator informed me he was talking to another aircraft holding short of delta taxiway on 27R. I asked to have the tapes pulled so they could be reviewed. Although nothing of a safety nature occurred, I felt a 'communication trap' did occur and should be reviewed and corrected.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THOUGHT CLRED FOR TKOF BUT MEANT FOR ACFT HOLDING ON TAXIWAY.

Narrative: WE (ACR X) WERE CLRED INTO POS ON RWY 27L AT PHL. A ACR Y HVY HAD JUST DEPARTED 27L, BUT, WELL CLR OF THE ARPT. TWR TRANSMITTED ACR X CLRED FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF, ACFT SHORT FINAL. THE FO RELEASED THE BRAKES AND STARTED THE PWR UP. I PUT MY HAND OVER THE THROTTLES TO KEEP THEM FROM GOING UP TO TKOF PWR AND ASKED THE TWR IF THEY WERE CLRING ACR X ON 27L FOR TKOF. THEY SAID 'NEGATIVE' WE HAD ONLY MOVED A FEW FT, BUT I REQUESTED TO TAXI DOWN THE ACTIVE FOR ANOTHER FULL LENGTH TKOF. NO OTHER PROBLEMS OCCURRED. THE TWR OPERATOR INFORMED ME HE WAS TALKING TO ANOTHER ACFT HOLDING SHORT OF DELTA TAXIWAY ON 27R. I ASKED TO HAVE THE TAPES PULLED SO THEY COULD BE REVIEWED. ALTHOUGH NOTHING OF A SAFETY NATURE OCCURRED, I FELT A 'COM TRAP' DID OCCUR AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND CORRECTED.

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.