Narrative:

Location: approach end of runway 27R. Tower cleared us (air carrier X) into position and hold as air carrier Y. We asked for and received confirmation that he intended air carrier X to taxi into position and hold. While in position, tower gave takeoff clearance to air carrier Y. We asked for, but did not receive, confirmation that the clearance was for us (air carrier X). Tower continued issuing clrncs to multiple other aircraft on intersecting runways without a break. We did not begin takeoff roll. Aircraft on final went around. Takeoff clearance -- especially on intersecting runways -- is far too important to make the assumption that he probably meant us. Tower should not continue with multiple unbroken xmissions until reply is received after issuing takeoff clearance.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A SUPER MD80 HELD IN POS FOR TKOF CAUSING ANOTHER ACFT TO GO AROUND, WHEN TKOF CLRNC CONFIRMATION OF HIS ACFT NUMBER COULD NOT BE OBTAINED FROM TWR CTLR, DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION.

Narrative: LOCATION: APCH END OF RWY 27R. TWR CLRED US (ACR X) INTO POS AND HOLD AS ACR Y. WE ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT HE INTENDED ACR X TO TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD. WHILE IN POS, TWR GAVE TKOF CLRNC TO ACR Y. WE ASKED FOR, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE, CONFIRMATION THAT THE CLRNC WAS FOR US (ACR X). TWR CONTINUED ISSUING CLRNCS TO MULTIPLE OTHER ACFT ON INTERSECTING RWYS WITHOUT A BREAK. WE DID NOT BEGIN TKOF ROLL. ACFT ON FINAL WENT AROUND. TKOF CLRNC -- ESPECIALLY ON INTERSECTING RWYS -- IS FAR TOO IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT HE PROBABLY MEANT US. TWR SHOULD NOT CONTINUE WITH MULTIPLE UNBROKEN XMISSIONS UNTIL REPLY IS RECEIVED AFTER ISSUING TKOF CLRNC.

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.