Speedy takeoffs aren’t up to the captain
Question: Why do some pilots, when cleared for takeoff, come to a complete stop on the runway while others will come off the taxiway and immediately take off ?
— Mark, Charlotte
Answer: Often the ones that stop on the runway have a clearance to “line up and wait.” This clearance means that the captain taxi onto the runway and align it for takeoff, but he must stop. Once the conflicting traffic is clear, then the takeoff clearance is issued and takeoff begins. If there is no conflicting traffic, then the rolling takeoff can be used.
Q: When a controller tells a pilot “short and cleared for takeoff,” or “short and lineup and wait,” what does that mean? I have heard it while listening to air-traffic control covering JFK Runway 13R/13L and during landing. — Ted, N.J.
A: In the context you ask, I suspect you are hearing “hold short.” This is a clearance to remain clear of the runway and behind the runway line painted on the taxiway. “Line up and wait” is a clearance to taxi onto the runway but NOT to begin takeoff. You mentioned landing. I suspect that you may be hearing the hold short clearance in relation to a landing airplane. As an example, “American 123 hold short, landing Boeing 757.”
Q: On a recent flight, the plane backed away from the terminal and the flight attendants began their safety announcement. But then the pilot gunned the engines, and as it picked up speed, the attendants scrambled to get to their jump seats. How unusual is this?
— submitted via email
A: Sadly, it happens occasionally. The pilots will become preoccupied with pretakeoff preparations when air-traffic control clears them for an immediate takeoff. It happened to me once, and I apologized to the flight attendants for my oversight.