Medium large transport given traffic information takeoff clearance. When lifting off tower gave seco...

Attributes
ACN	81868
Time
Date	198802
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	81868
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We medium large transport X were cleared into position and hold on runway 18R at mem. After taking the runway and holding in position for a short period (30 second - 1 min) we were advised by tower that an 'small transport Y passing left to right over departure end of runway-cleared for takeoff.' we both observed the traffic and acknowledged traffic and takeoff clearance to each other and tower and made the takeoff. Just after gear retraction the tower said 'medium large transport X cleared for takeoff.' first officer advised tower we had been cleared for takeoff and were airborne. Tower then simply told us to contact departure control. Due to the fact that we were both absolutely positive of having gotten takeoff clearance and volume of traffic on tower frequency we went to departure control and no further mention of the matter was made by us on ATC. We had small transport Y traffic in sight at all times through departure and initial climb and it never was a factor. It is always a bit uncomfortable in these situations where the controling facility is not certain of 'who's on first' and the normal scapegoat of any misunderstanding is the cockpit crew. This can detract from the primary duties of flying the machine.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG GIVEN TRAFFIC INFORMATION TKOF CLRNC. WHEN LIFTING OFF TWR GAVE SECOND TKOF CLRNC TO MLG CAUSING CONCERN.

Narrative: WE MLG X WERE CLRED INTO POS AND HOLD ON RWY 18R AT MEM. AFTER TAKING THE RWY AND HOLDING IN POS FOR A SHORT PERIOD (30 SEC - 1 MIN) WE WERE ADVISED BY TWR THAT AN 'SMT Y PASSING LEFT TO RIGHT OVER DEP END OF RWY-CLRED FOR TKOF.' WE BOTH OBSERVED THE TFC AND ACKNOWLEDGED TFC AND TKOF CLRNC TO EACH OTHER AND TWR AND MADE THE TKOF. JUST AFTER GEAR RETRACTION THE TWR SAID 'MLG X CLRED FOR TKOF.' F/O ADVISED TWR WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR TKOF AND WERE AIRBORNE. TWR THEN SIMPLY TOLD US TO CONTACT DEP CTL. DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE BOTH ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE OF HAVING GOTTEN TKOF CLRNC AND VOLUME OF TFC ON TWR FREQ WE WENT TO DEP CTL AND NO FURTHER MENTION OF THE MATTER WAS MADE BY US ON ATC. WE HAD SMT Y TFC IN SIGHT AT ALL TIMES THROUGH DEP AND INITIAL CLB AND IT NEVER WAS A FACTOR. IT IS ALWAYS A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE IN THESE SITUATIONS WHERE THE CTLING FACILITY IS NOT CERTAIN OF 'WHO'S ON FIRST' AND THE NORMAL SCAPEGOAT OF ANY MISUNDERSTANDING IS THE COCKPIT CREW. THIS CAN DETRACT FROM THE PRIMARY DUTIES OF FLYING THE MACHINE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

Medium large transport given traffic information takeoff clearance. When lifting off tower gave second takeoff clearance to medium large transport causing concern.