Narrative:

After receiving taxi instructions to runway 22R via 'X,' we began our taxi. Upon reaching the end of 'X' we used 'za' to the end of 22R, which was an area of displaced threshold. Upon being cleared for takeoff, we taxied into position and noticed some red runway end lights approximately 500 ft in front of us. We felt they were recessed into the runway and the takeoff could be continued safely. The lights were wide enough for us to get between them and, as we passed them on takeoff roll, we still thought they were recessed. However, upon reviewing the NOTAMS, they stated the 'northeast 800 ft closed for runway 4L-22R.' yet, knowing sometimes that NOTAMS expire and are still on the flight papers, and by the fact that ground control and local control said nothing to substantiate the NOTAM, we proceeded with the takeoff without incident! Supplemental information from acn 254493: za, puts the aircraft on the extended centerline overrun for takeoff position. After looking over field NOTAMS, it was noted '800 ft northeast of runway 22R closed.' was the NOTAM outdated? Invalid? Just prior to our departure, air carrier Y was cleared to runway 22R via za, and cleared for takeoff.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CARGO ACR FAILS TO REGARD NOTAM, TAKES OFF ON CLOSED PORTION OF RWY.

Narrative: AFTER RECEIVING TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO RWY 22R VIA 'X,' WE BEGAN OUR TAXI. UPON REACHING THE END OF 'X' WE USED 'ZA' TO THE END OF 22R, WHICH WAS AN AREA OF DISPLACED THRESHOLD. UPON BEING CLRED FOR TKOF, WE TAXIED INTO POS AND NOTICED SOME RED RWY END LIGHTS APPROX 500 FT IN FRONT OF US. WE FELT THEY WERE RECESSED INTO THE RWY AND THE TKOF COULD BE CONTINUED SAFELY. THE LIGHTS WERE WIDE ENOUGH FOR US TO GET BTWN THEM AND, AS WE PASSED THEM ON TKOF ROLL, WE STILL THOUGHT THEY WERE RECESSED. HOWEVER, UPON REVIEWING THE NOTAMS, THEY STATED THE 'NE 800 FT CLOSED FOR RWY 4L-22R.' YET, KNOWING SOMETIMES THAT NOTAMS EXPIRE AND ARE STILL ON THE FLT PAPERS, AND BY THE FACT THAT GND CTL AND LCL CTL SAID NOTHING TO SUBSTANTIATE THE NOTAM, WE PROCEEDED WITH THE TKOF WITHOUT INCIDENT! SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 254493: ZA, PUTS THE ACFT ON THE EXTENDED CTRLINE OVERRUN FOR TKOF POS. AFTER LOOKING OVER FIELD NOTAMS, IT WAS NOTED '800 FT NE OF RWY 22R CLOSED.' WAS THE NOTAM OUTDATED? INVALID? JUST PRIOR TO OUR DEP, ACR Y WAS CLRED TO RWY 22R VIA ZA, AND CLRED FOR TKOF.

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.