Narrative:

We were #1 for takeoff on runway 16R at the slc airport. Tower gave us new takeoff instructions (runway heading 8!) and position hold. I acknowledged. On taking the runway, the captain thought we had been cleared for takeoff. At this time we were on the runway. We queried the tower to make sure we were just supposed to be in position and not cleared for takeoff. The tower told us to turn off the runway, that he never cleared us on. Then in the next breath, he changed his mind and had us hold while he gave air carrier large transport Y a go around. After large transport Y cleared the area, he cleared us for takeoff. I feel it was very odd to be given departure instructions and not cleared for takeoff, that is usually when they are given. If the tapes in fact prove we never were cleared on the runway, then I believe the departure instructions just triggered our response out of habit. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: when in #1 position tower, according to the tape, gave a runway heading and maintain altitude and something else PNF thought was position and hold. As they took runway, PF started to put power up for takeoff, but PNF said hold it, I think he said position and hold. Called tower to verify which and tower said clear runway then said, 'no, hold position,' and sent large transport Y on approach around, then cleared large transport X for takeoff. When called back tower supervisor said had checked tapes and manual and found when give takeoff instructions, but want aircraft to hold, are supposed to preface instructions with hold position and said it was controller error.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR-LGT ENTERED RWY CAUSING TWR TO ISSUE GO AROUND INSTRUCTIONS TO LGT Y ON APCH.

Narrative: WE WERE #1 FOR TKOF ON RWY 16R AT THE SLC ARPT. TWR GAVE US NEW TKOF INSTRUCTIONS (RWY HDG 8!) AND POS HOLD. I ACKNOWLEDGED. ON TAKING THE RWY, THE CAPT THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR TKOF. AT THIS TIME WE WERE ON THE RWY. WE QUERIED THE TWR TO MAKE SURE WE WERE JUST SUPPOSED TO BE IN POS AND NOT CLRED FOR TKOF. THE TWR TOLD US TO TURN OFF THE RWY, THAT HE NEVER CLRED US ON. THEN IN THE NEXT BREATH, HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND HAD US HOLD WHILE HE GAVE ACR LGT Y A GO AROUND. AFTER LGT Y CLRED THE AREA, HE CLRED US FOR TKOF. I FEEL IT WAS VERY ODD TO BE GIVEN DEP INSTRUCTIONS AND NOT CLRED FOR TKOF, THAT IS USUALLY WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN. IF THE TAPES IN FACT PROVE WE NEVER WERE CLRED ON THE RWY, THEN I BELIEVE THE DEP INSTRUCTIONS JUST TRIGGERED OUR RESPONSE OUT OF HABIT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: WHEN IN #1 POSITION TWR, ACCORDING TO THE TAPE, GAVE A RWY HDG AND MAINTAIN ALT AND SOMETHING ELSE PNF THOUGHT WAS POSITION AND HOLD. AS THEY TOOK RWY, PF STARTED TO PUT PWR UP FOR TKOF, BUT PNF SAID HOLD IT, I THINK HE SAID POSITION AND HOLD. CALLED TWR TO VERIFY WHICH AND TWR SAID CLR RWY THEN SAID, 'NO, HOLD POS,' AND SENT LGT Y ON APCH AROUND, THEN CLRED LGT X FOR TKOF. WHEN CALLED BACK TWR SUPVR SAID HAD CHKED TAPES AND MANUAL AND FOUND WHEN GIVE TKOF INSTRUCTIONS, BUT WANT ACFT TO HOLD, ARE SUPPOSED TO PREFACE INSTRUCTIONS WITH HOLD POS AND SAID IT WAS CTLR ERROR.

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.