Narrative:

At #1 position for takeoff at ewr for runway 4L at approximately XA30Z. Also, an air carrier Y MD11 was #1 position for runway 4R. Tower told aircraft on final for runway 4R to land runway 4L and cleared air carrier Y to position and hold runway 4R for takeoff. Seconds later, tower notified someone to 'position and hold runway 4?, be ready for immediate takeoff, aircraft on 6 mi final.' I (captain) did not hear first portion of clearance. My copilot read back our flight number along with 'roger, position and hold runway 4L, we'll be ready for immediate takeoff. After positioned on runway, tower called us twice -- we responded twice. He did not respond to our response and sent other aircraft on final around. He told us to taxi clear of runway 4L and taxi to runway 4R for takeoff. Normal takeoff on runway 4R. Ewr ATIS and sometimes NOTAMS specifically state that there are and have been blank/blind spots for aircraft/tower communications at that end of field and for aircraft to use a specific antenna. During our taxi out, an aircraft ahead of us was issued takeoff clearance and he read it back twice but tower could not hear him. Another aircraft acknowledged for the departing aircraft. When we were queried after taking the runway, my copilot said 'we answered you 'position and hold runway 4L.' later I spoke with tower controller and he said that our clearance was for air carrier Y. But that even though we responded as we did, tower was responsible for catching the mistake and correcting it. My copilot still feels that we were given a 'position and hold.' controller stated that there was no problem and that there would be no paperwork involved. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the problem at ewr is intermittent but occurs more often than not. He said the tower frequently advises pilots through the ATIS to use their aircraft's top antenna while on the ground at ewr. In conversations on the phone with the tower, the reporter said the controllers freely acknowledge that a problem exists.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR CLAIMS THAT THERE IS A PROB WITH RADIO COMS BTWN THE EWR TWR AND ACFT NEAR RWYS 4L AND 4R.

Narrative: AT #1 POS FOR TKOF AT EWR FOR RWY 4L AT APPROX XA30Z. ALSO, AN ACR Y MD11 WAS #1 POS FOR RWY 4R. TWR TOLD ACFT ON FINAL FOR RWY 4R TO LAND RWY 4L AND CLRED ACR Y TO POS AND HOLD RWY 4R FOR TKOF. SECONDS LATER, TWR NOTIFIED SOMEONE TO 'POS AND HOLD RWY 4?, BE READY FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF, ACFT ON 6 MI FINAL.' I (CAPT) DID NOT HEAR FIRST PORTION OF CLRNC. MY COPLT READ BACK OUR FLT NUMBER ALONG WITH 'ROGER, POS AND HOLD RWY 4L, WE'LL BE READY FOR IMMEDIATE TKOF. AFTER POSITIONED ON RWY, TWR CALLED US TWICE -- WE RESPONDED TWICE. HE DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR RESPONSE AND SENT OTHER ACFT ON FINAL AROUND. HE TOLD US TO TAXI CLR OF RWY 4L AND TAXI TO RWY 4R FOR TKOF. NORMAL TKOF ON RWY 4R. EWR ATIS AND SOMETIMES NOTAMS SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THERE ARE AND HAVE BEEN BLANK/BLIND SPOTS FOR ACFT/TWR COMS AT THAT END OF FIELD AND FOR ACFT TO USE A SPECIFIC ANTENNA. DURING OUR TAXI OUT, AN ACFT AHEAD OF US WAS ISSUED TKOF CLRNC AND HE READ IT BACK TWICE BUT TWR COULD NOT HEAR HIM. ANOTHER ACFT ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THE DEPARTING ACFT. WHEN WE WERE QUERIED AFTER TAKING THE RWY, MY COPLT SAID 'WE ANSWERED YOU 'POS AND HOLD RWY 4L.' LATER I SPOKE WITH TWR CTLR AND HE SAID THAT OUR CLRNC WAS FOR ACR Y. BUT THAT EVEN THOUGH WE RESPONDED AS WE DID, TWR WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CATCHING THE MISTAKE AND CORRECTING IT. MY COPLT STILL FEELS THAT WE WERE GIVEN A 'POS AND HOLD.' CTLR STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROB AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO PAPERWORK INVOLVED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE PROB AT EWR IS INTERMITTENT BUT OCCURS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. HE SAID THE TWR FREQUENTLY ADVISES PLTS THROUGH THE ATIS TO USE THEIR ACFT'S TOP ANTENNA WHILE ON THE GND AT EWR. IN CONVERSATIONS ON THE PHONE WITH THE TWR, THE RPTR SAID THE CTLRS FREELY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A PROB EXISTS.

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.