A DC10-30 taxies for takeoff at cdg, france, and stops short of the runway just as another aircraft lands. Flight crew has difficulty understanding clearance. Language barrier makes clearance interpretation difficult.

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Attributes
ACN	373810
Time
Date	199707
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cdg
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 240
ASRS Report	373810
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Waiting for takeoff at cdg, we were positioned #1 for runway 28. The tower controller called us and the first officer and I heard 'line up and wait, #2 for takeoff.' I applied power and began taxiing from the hold line to the runway. The so said be sure to check final because he thought the controller said 'line up and wait behind landing traffic, #2 for takeoff.' I looked back and saw no traffic, so continued taxiing. The so and I discussed the clearance and neither was comfortable with it so I asked the first officer to get clarification. I again looked back and then saw a BAE146 on very short final and I stopped my aircraft abruptly, but short of the runway. The BAE146 landed and we again asked for clarification from the controller. The language barrier (accent very heavy) and the abnormal clearance really caused confusion and fortunately for an alert crew we avoided a potentially serious conflict. Also contributing is the fact that the taxiway up to the runway (runway 28 at cdg) approachs the runway from a 30-45 degree angle, making it very difficult to view and clear final.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC10-30 TAXIES FOR TKOF AT CDG, FRANCE, AND STOPS SHORT OF THE RWY JUST AS ANOTHER ACFT LANDS. FLC HAS DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING CLRNC. LANGUAGE BARRIER MAKES CLRNC INTERP DIFFICULT.

Narrative: WAITING FOR TKOF AT CDG, WE WERE POSITIONED #1 FOR RWY 28. THE TWR CTLR CALLED US AND THE FO AND I HEARD 'LINE UP AND WAIT, #2 FOR TKOF.' I APPLIED PWR AND BEGAN TAXIING FROM THE HOLD LINE TO THE RWY. THE SO SAID BE SURE TO CHK FINAL BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THE CTLR SAID 'LINE UP AND WAIT BEHIND LNDG TFC, #2 FOR TKOF.' I LOOKED BACK AND SAW NO TFC, SO CONTINUED TAXIING. THE SO AND I DISCUSSED THE CLRNC AND NEITHER WAS COMFORTABLE WITH IT SO I ASKED THE FO TO GET CLARIFICATION. I AGAIN LOOKED BACK AND THEN SAW A BAE146 ON VERY SHORT FINAL AND I STOPPED MY ACFT ABRUPTLY, BUT SHORT OF THE RWY. THE BAE146 LANDED AND WE AGAIN ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION FROM THE CTLR. THE LANGUAGE BARRIER (ACCENT VERY HVY) AND THE ABNORMAL CLRNC REALLY CAUSED CONFUSION AND FORTUNATELY FOR AN ALERT CREW WE AVOIDED A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS CONFLICT. ALSO CONTRIBUTING IS THE FACT THAT THE TXWY UP TO THE RWY (RWY 28 AT CDG) APCHS THE RWY FROM A 30-45 DEG ANGLE, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO VIEW AND CLR FINAL.

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.