Iah controller described a potential conflict between two departures from parallel runways when fail...

Narrative:

An E145; was cleared for takeoff of runway 15L he was departing to the southeast. I had instructed a B757 to luaw on runway 15R to wait for traffic on his runway; he was a northbound departure. I cleared the E145 for take off on runway 15L for departure while he was still on taxiway ww. The pilot acknowledged. The E145 didn't tag off of runway 15L; I then turned and asked the clearance delivery person to ARTS force his cid; to get him started. When I observed that it didn't work; I then jumped on the land line to coordinate with downstairs for a manual hand off. Downstairs accepted the hand off after me having to repeat myself. By the time I had gotten off the land line; I had expected the E145 to have started his takeoff roll; so I departed the B757 for departure on runway 15R; as I was giving the clearance I noticed that the E145 had not started his roll. As I un-keyed my headset they both began their roll. They both rolled down the runway at the same time. The B757 got airborne first. Recommendation; I should have looked out the window and seen that the E145 had not rolled. As for the pilot he maybe could have told me that he really wasn't ready for departure that he still need more time; instead of rolling out very slowly. This is a busy airport traffic is moved at high rate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IAH Controller described a potential conflict between two departures from parallel runways when failing to note when the aircraft actually started their take off roll; the reporter acknowledging better outside viewing would have prevented the event.

Narrative: An E145; was cleared for takeoff of Runway 15L he was departing to the southeast. I had instructed a B757 to LUAW on Runway 15R to wait for traffic on his runway; he was a northbound departure. I cleared the E145 for take off on Runway 15L for departure while he was still on Taxiway WW. The pilot acknowledged. The E145 didn't tag off of Runway 15L; I then turned and asked the Clearance Delivery person to ARTS force his CID; to get him started. When I observed that it didn't work; I then jumped on the land line to coordinate with downstairs for a manual hand off. Downstairs accepted the hand off after me having to repeat myself. By the time I had gotten off the land line; I had expected the E145 to have started his takeoff roll; so I departed the B757 for departure on Runway 15R; as I was giving the clearance I noticed that the E145 had not started his roll. As I un-keyed my headset they both began their roll. They both rolled down the runway at the same time. The B757 got airborne first. Recommendation; I should have looked out the window and seen that the E145 had not rolled. As for the pilot he maybe could have told me that he really wasn't ready for departure that he still need more time; instead of rolling out very slowly. This is a busy airport traffic is moved at high rate.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	947240
Time
Date	201105
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	IAH.Airport
State Reference	TX
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 129
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Iah controller described a potential conflict between two departures from parallel runways when failing to note when the aircraft actually started their take off roll; the reporter acknowledging better outside viewing would have prevented the event.