Lax local controller departs aircraft off runway 24L and runway 24R side-by.

Attributes
ACN	569268
Time
Date	200212
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : lax.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 185 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	569268
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

We were told by the tower to cross runway 24L via A7 and hold short of runway 24R. Air carrier Y airbus was in position and holding on runway 24L. Prior to holding short of runway 24R, tower said 'XXXX keep it rolling and you are cleared for takeoff on runway 24R.' next, tower said 'air carrier Y cleared for takeoff runway 24L.' we were rolling down the runway side-by-side with air carrier Y airbus. I did have the traffic in sight the whole time. My question is: was this a legal clearance given by the tower? And if so, should the tower have asked one of us to maintain a visual?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LAX LCL CTLR DEPARTS ACFT OFF RWY 24L AND RWY 24R SIDE-BY.

Narrative: WE WERE TOLD BY THE TWR TO CROSS RWY 24L VIA A7 AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 24R. ACR Y AIRBUS WAS IN POS AND HOLDING ON RWY 24L. PRIOR TO HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 24R, TWR SAID 'XXXX KEEP IT ROLLING AND YOU ARE CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 24R.' NEXT, TWR SAID 'ACR Y CLRED FOR TKOF RWY 24L.' WE WERE ROLLING DOWN THE RWY SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH ACR Y AIRBUS. I DID HAVE THE TFC IN SIGHT THE WHOLE TIME. MY QUESTION IS: WAS THIS A LEGAL CLRNC GIVEN BY THE TWR? AND IF SO, SHOULD THE TWR HAVE ASKED ONE OF US TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL?

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.