Narrative:

While taxiing for departure from runway 22L; a flight was forced to go around while approaching 22R. I believe the issue was bird strike debris on the runway; but I did not hear enough of the transmission to be sure. As a result; a B757 on final for 22R was told to side-step to the left side. The tower controller suddenly began to try to force as many departures as possible between the ensuing arrivals. We were told to line up and wait as another B757 landed and a vehicle crossed the runway down field; and to 'be ready for an immediate.' as soon as the B757 was clear; we were cleared for take off. We heard the tower clear the next B757 to line up and wait behind us; and for him to be ready for an immediate as well; traffic was on final; inside five miles. The aircraft acknowledged that they could be ready for an immediate. We may not have even finished setting our thrust; and were under 60 KTS when the tower cleared the next departure for an 'immediate takeoff; no delay.' I have to believe that the following flight did not actually start to roll until we were airborne; but the fact is; I just don't know. Either way; what if we had aborted? The tower would have had two aircraft on the runway; possibly both rolling; and one on short final forced to go missed; all because they did not want to extend anyone's wait for a departure clearance. I have reported about this before; and the fact is the dtw tower has a bad habit of clearing aircraft for take off when the previous departure is still nowhere near rotation speed. Again; I have to believe that other pilots are not going to roll until the runway is clear so; if that is the case; why can't dtw just wait until the preceding aircraft has rotated? Further; what if the second aircraft does indeed roll; especially if the visibility is not ideal? Obviously; the controllers have certain criteria that must be met before they can clear an aircraft for take off; and while I may not know what they are; I have to believe that dtw; in this case; did not meet those criteria. Further; as a pilot; my only criteria; and the standard to which I will be held; is that a safe takeoff can be performed; which means that the runway must be clear. If dtw is going to continue this practice; then all involved should relay to us exactly what criteria they use so that we can understand their practices. A better idea yet would only be to clear a flight for take off when the runway is clear.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier departure from DTW voiced concern regarding ATC's anticipated separation judgment when issuing take off clearances to subsequent aircraft prior to the first aircraft has rotated.

Narrative: While taxiing for departure from Runway 22L; a flight was forced to go around while approaching 22R. I believe the issue was bird strike debris on the runway; but I did not hear enough of the transmission to be sure. As a result; a B757 on final for 22R was told to side-step to the left side. The Tower Controller suddenly began to try to force as many departures as possible between the ensuing arrivals. We were told to line up and wait as another B757 landed and a vehicle crossed the runway down field; and to 'be ready for an immediate.' As soon as the B757 was clear; we were cleared for take off. We heard the Tower clear the next B757 to line up and wait behind us; and for him to be ready for an immediate as well; traffic was on final; inside five miles. The aircraft acknowledged that they could be ready for an immediate. We may not have even finished setting our thrust; and were under 60 KTS when the Tower cleared the next departure for an 'immediate takeoff; no delay.' I have to believe that the following flight did not actually start to roll until we were airborne; but the fact is; I just don't know. Either way; what if we had aborted? The tower would have had two aircraft on the runway; possibly both rolling; and one on short final forced to go missed; all because they did not want to extend anyone's wait for a departure clearance. I have reported about this before; and the fact is the DTW Tower has a bad habit of clearing aircraft for take off when the previous departure is still nowhere near rotation speed. Again; I have to believe that other pilots are not going to roll until the runway is clear so; if that is the case; why can't DTW just wait until the preceding aircraft has rotated? Further; what if the second aircraft does indeed roll; especially if the visibility is not ideal? Obviously; the controllers have certain criteria that must be met before they can clear an aircraft for take off; and while I may not know what they are; I have to believe that DTW; in this case; did not meet those criteria. Further; as a pilot; my only criteria; and the standard to which I will be held; is that a safe takeoff can be performed; which means that the runway must be clear. If DTW is going to continue this practice; then all involved should relay to us exactly what criteria they use so that we can understand their practices. A better idea yet would only be to clear a flight for take off when the runway is clear.

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.