Narrative:

We were given a taxi clearance to taxi from the ramp to runway 26L via taxiway uniform and sierra to runway 26L; and to hold short of taxiway delta. The taxi instructions from the ground controller were out of the normal sequence and we were confused because taxiway delta is at the departure end of runway 8R; not 26L. The first officer attempted to verify the clearance with the controller several times and she was becoming increasingly agitated; and twice told us to read back the runway assignment with our call sign which we did. Because we were still unsure what she wanted us to do; we stopped the aircraft on taxiway uniform short of runway 26L trying to get some clarification. As we were sitting there; a smaller aircraft with another carrier's colors departed runway 8R in front of us. Had we not stopped; we would have been crossing the runway with that aircraft on takeoff roll. As that was happening; the first officer pointed out to the controller that taxiway delta was at the departure end of runway 8R and we were then cleared to taxi to runway 26L and hold short of taxiway whiskey. Neither the first officer nor I ever heard instructions to hold short of any runways off taxiway whiskey. Neither the first officer nor I ever heard instructions to hold short of any runways.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Pilot departing ONT is given terrible taxi instruction to Runway 26L. Controller is questioned; agitated because of the questions. While holding short of 26L; an aircraft departs in front of the taxing aircraft which had no hold short instructions.

Narrative: We were given a taxi clearance to taxi from the ramp to Runway 26L via Taxiway Uniform and Sierra to Runway 26L; and to hold short of Taxiway Delta. The taxi instructions from the Ground Controller were out of the normal sequence and we were confused because Taxiway Delta is at the departure end of Runway 8R; not 26L. The First Officer attempted to verify the clearance with the Controller several times and she was becoming increasingly agitated; and twice told us to read back the runway assignment with our call sign which we did. Because we were still unsure what she wanted us to do; we stopped the aircraft on Taxiway Uniform short of Runway 26L trying to get some clarification. As we were sitting there; a smaller aircraft with another carrier's colors departed Runway 8R in front of us. Had we not stopped; we would have been crossing the runway with that aircraft on takeoff roll. As that was happening; the First Officer pointed out to the Controller that Taxiway Delta was at the departure end of Runway 8R and we were then cleared to taxi to Runway 26L and hold short of Taxiway Whiskey. Neither the First Officer nor I ever heard instructions to hold short of any runways off Taxiway Whiskey. Neither the First Officer nor I ever heard instructions to hold short of any runways.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.