Air carrier holding well clear of runway 12L for departure observed an aircraft on final issued go a...

Attributes
ACN	1046180
Time
Date	201210
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	HOU.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	Landing
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 178
Person 2
Function	Captain
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 190
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Ground Conflict Less Severe

Narrative:

We received the standard taxi clearance of [runway] 12R via zulu and echo; hold short of [runway] 12L; monitor tower. The captain stopped the aircraft about ten feet short of the hold line for [runway] 12L. I observed a light twin on final for [runway] 12L. The tower told the twin; 'go around; aircraft on the runway.' the captain looked left and said; 'there is no aircraft on the runway.' the tower then explained; 'the 737 is short of the runway; but our equipment detects him on it so we have to send you around. Company; flight number; you are short of the runway. Our equipment detects you on it.' I responded that we were well behind the line. We were cleared to taxi and take off with no further incident. The whole thing was weird. Obviously; hou has some faulty equipment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier holding well clear of Runway 12L for departure observed an aircraft on final issued go around instructions by ATC because of an occupied runway alarm.

Narrative: We received the standard taxi clearance of [Runway] 12R via Zulu and Echo; hold short of [Runway] 12L; monitor Tower. The Captain stopped the aircraft about ten feet short of the hold line for [Runway] 12L. I observed a light twin on final for [Runway] 12L. The Tower told the twin; 'Go around; aircraft on the runway.' The Captain looked left and said; 'There is no aircraft on the runway.' The Tower then explained; 'The 737 is short of the runway; but our equipment detects him on it so we have to send you around. Company; flight number; you are short of the runway. Our equipment detects you on it.' I responded that we were well behind the line. We were cleared to taxi and take off with no further incident. The whole thing was weird. Obviously; HOU has some faulty equipment.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Air carrier holding well clear of runway 12L for departure observed an aircraft on final issued go around instructions by ATC because of an occupied runway alarm.