Narrative:

Runway 5R closed so all departures and arrivals on 5L. We were told to line up and wait 5L. As we got onto runway there was a stuck microphone on an aircraft; spanish was heard in conversation. As we sat in position; we realized via TCAS that an arrival was closing in for 5L. Unable to communicate with tower; I told first officer to try secondary tower frequency...no joy; then ground they simply stated they were aware. I thought about clearing the runway but it would have required moving a considerable distance toward the touchdown zone which I thought could be more hazardous. I thought it safer to stay put and hope the aircraft remained on glide slope and should pass 100-200 ft above us. From past experience; this tower does not give landing clearance until runway is clear; unlike in the us we watched as the TCAS counted down the arrival's altitude; +400; +300; +200; +100; still with the stuck microphone. Then; suddenly the aircraft passed approximately 150 ft above us in a go-around. We do not know if he saw us or realized they had no landing clearance. Either way; the potential for a catastrophe was high. Within 15 seconds of the go-around the frequency cleared and shortly after we were cleared for take-off. Now imagine this situation occurred in the us where landing clearances are given with aircraft on the runway; and on a runway without a displaced threshold; in low IFR weather conditions. ATC rules should be changed. Perhaps the lack of a landing clearance could save the day.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier departure from a foreign airport was cleared to 'line up and wait' only to discover TCAS displayed NORDO landing traffic closing rapidly; the landing traffic eventually going around approximately 150 FT above.

Narrative: Runway 5R closed so all departures and arrivals on 5L. We were told to line up and wait 5L. As we got onto runway there was a stuck microphone on an aircraft; Spanish was heard in conversation. As we sat in position; we realized via TCAS that an arrival was closing in for 5L. Unable to communicate with Tower; I told First Officer to try secondary Tower frequency...no joy; then Ground they simply stated they were aware. I thought about clearing the runway but it would have required moving a considerable distance toward the touchdown zone which I thought could be more hazardous. I thought it safer to stay put and hope the aircraft remained on glide slope and should pass 100-200 FT above us. From past experience; this Tower does not give landing clearance until runway is clear; unlike in the U.S. We watched as the TCAS counted down the arrival's altitude; +400; +300; +200; +100; still with the stuck microphone. Then; suddenly the aircraft passed approximately 150 FT above us in a go-around. We do not know if he saw us or realized they had no landing clearance. Either way; the potential for a catastrophe was high. Within 15 seconds of the go-around the frequency cleared and shortly after we were cleared for take-off. Now imagine this situation occurred in the U.S. where landing clearances are given with aircraft on the runway; and on a runway without a displaced threshold; in low IFR weather conditions. ATC rules should be changed. Perhaps the lack of a landing clearance could save the day.

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.