Narrative:

On departure from las on nov/xa/00, approximately XA30, the crew of jetstar was cleared to taxi via taxiway H for a departure on runway 7L. The crew expected the taxi route to be taxiway H to taxiway A8, crossing runways 1L and 1R for a runway 7L departure. However, after changing from ground to tower frequency, the tower controller immediately cleared for a full length runway departure on runway 7L. In an attempt to accommodate traffic flow, the crew rushed the line-up checklist which required the copilot to be head down in the cockpit and the captain experienced difficulty finding the taxiway lead-in lights in the dark for runway 7L. The aircraft missed the runway 7L and began to line up on the taxiway. At this point the crew idented the error and advised the tower they would reverse course on the taxiway and taxi and remain clear of both runways 1L&right. At this point the tower said that option was not necessary because he already sent the traffic for runway 1L around, therefore, the crew could continue taxi for the intended runway 7L. What the crew did not hear was the tower controller added hold in position on runway 7L. The tower controller never specifically canceled the takeoff clearance for runway 7 departure, therefore, in the interest of avoiding another runway 1L go around, the crew departed runway 7L immediately after line-up. Also during the start of the takeoff roll on runway 7L, the tower turned up the runway lights to full bright to assist the crew. After departure, the tower controller mentioned was not really cleared for takeoff on runway 7L.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A LOCKHEED JETSTAR L29G INADVERTENTLY TAXIED PAST HOLD SHORT LINE RESULTING IN TWR CTLR SENDING ANOTHER ACFT AROUND AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK OFF WITHOUT TKOF CLRNC.

Narrative: ON DEP FROM LAS ON NOV/XA/00, APPROX XA30, THE CREW OF JETSTAR WAS CLRED TO TAXI VIA TXWY H FOR A DEP ON RWY 7L. THE CREW EXPECTED THE TAXI RTE TO BE TXWY H TO TXWY A8, XING RWYS 1L AND 1R FOR A RWY 7L DEP. HOWEVER, AFTER CHANGING FROM GND TO TWR FREQ, THE TWR CTLR IMMEDIATELY CLRED FOR A FULL LENGTH RWY DEP ON RWY 7L. IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACCOMMODATE TFC FLOW, THE CREW RUSHED THE LINE-UP CHKLIST WHICH REQUIRED THE COPLT TO BE HEAD DOWN IN THE COCKPIT AND THE CAPT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY FINDING THE TXWY LEAD-IN LIGHTS IN THE DARK FOR RWY 7L. THE ACFT MISSED THE RWY 7L AND BEGAN TO LINE UP ON THE TXWY. AT THIS POINT THE CREW IDENTED THE ERROR AND ADVISED THE TWR THEY WOULD REVERSE COURSE ON THE TXWY AND TAXI AND REMAIN CLR OF BOTH RWYS 1L&R. AT THIS POINT THE TWR SAID THAT OPTION WAS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE HE ALREADY SENT THE TFC FOR RWY 1L AROUND, THEREFORE, THE CREW COULD CONTINUE TAXI FOR THE INTENDED RWY 7L. WHAT THE CREW DID NOT HEAR WAS THE TWR CTLR ADDED HOLD IN POS ON RWY 7L. THE TWR CTLR NEVER SPECIFICALLY CANCELED THE TKOF CLRNC FOR RWY 7 DEP, THEREFORE, IN THE INTEREST OF AVOIDING ANOTHER RWY 1L GAR, THE CREW DEPARTED RWY 7L IMMEDIATELY AFTER LINE-UP. ALSO DURING THE START OF THE TKOF ROLL ON RWY 7L, THE TWR TURNED UP THE RWY LIGHTS TO FULL BRIGHT TO ASSIST THE CREW. AFTER DEP, THE TWR CTLR MENTIONED WAS NOT REALLY CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 7L.

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.