Narrative:

After pushback in orlando, the ground controller told us to taxi to runway 18L. We accepted this west/O question. The ATIS information was giving some unusual information about lndgs to the north and takeoffs to the south. Also the information indicated that runway 18L was closed. The ATIS information however, was about 90 mins old showing a xe:50Z time, ie about xb:00 am local. So it seemed reasonable that the controller would have the latest information anyway. Holding short of runway 18L the controller cleared us for takeoff with an 180 degree heading. We initiated the roll, and just as we got takeoff power set, he asked us to cancel the takeoff clearance. Being at a very low speed, this was a non event. We asked why the change of heart and he advised us that actually the runway was still closed. Supplemental information from acn 172174. We were cleared for takeoff on runway 18L, I acknowledged. It was my leg to fly, captain taxied into position, I took control of aircraft. After takeoff power was applied and no airspeed indication yet, tower cancelled takeoff clearance and told us to taxi to runway 18R. When captain asked for reason, the tower replied they just found out runway 18L was closed. No reason given.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATCT LCL CTLR CLEARED ACFT FOR TKOF ON CLOSED RWY, DISCOVERED ERROR AND HAD ACFT CANCEL TKOF CLRNC.

Narrative: AFTER PUSHBACK IN ORLANDO, THE GND CTLR TOLD US TO TAXI TO RWY 18L. WE ACCEPTED THIS W/O QUESTION. THE ATIS INFO WAS GIVING SOME UNUSUAL INFO ABOUT LNDGS TO THE N AND TKOFS TO THE S. ALSO THE INFO INDICATED THAT RWY 18L WAS CLOSED. THE ATIS INFO HOWEVER, WAS ABOUT 90 MINS OLD SHOWING A XE:50Z TIME, IE ABOUT XB:00 AM LCL. SO IT SEEMED REASONABLE THAT THE CTLR WOULD HAVE THE LATEST INFO ANYWAY. HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 18L THE CTLR CLRED US FOR TKOF WITH AN 180 DEG HDG. WE INITIATED THE ROLL, AND JUST AS WE GOT TKOF PWR SET, HE ASKED US TO CANCEL THE TKOF CLRNC. BEING AT A VERY LOW SPD, THIS WAS A NON EVENT. WE ASKED WHY THE CHANGE OF HEART AND HE ADVISED US THAT ACTUALLY THE RWY WAS STILL CLOSED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 172174. WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 18L, I ACKNOWLEDGED. IT WAS MY LEG TO FLY, CAPT TAXIED INTO POS, I TOOK CTL OF ACFT. AFTER TKOF PWR WAS APPLIED AND NO AIRSPD INDICATION YET, TWR CANCELLED TKOF CLRNC AND TOLD US TO TAXI TO RWY 18R. WHEN CAPT ASKED FOR REASON, THE TWR REPLIED THEY JUST FOUND OUT RWY 18L WAS CLOSED. NO REASON GIVEN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.