Narrative:

After receiving an IFR clearance at agc airport, I contacted ground control for clearance to taxi. I was told to taxi to runway 28 and stay with him for IFR release. Just short of runway 28, I was told by ground that I had been released and fly heading 250 degrees. I taxied into position for takeoff, since this controller had said I was released and he had instructed me to stay on his frequency. After entering the runway, the controller said he had not cleared me for takeoff. I asked if he wanted me to exit the runway and he said no, and then issued me a takeoff clearance. I believe this confusion would not have occurred if proper ATC communications were used by agc control tower. Also, I believe when the workload is so low at a non busy tower, that complacency sets in regarding communications and traffic management.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C550 PIC TAXIES ONTO RWY WHEN INTERPING 'YOU ARE RELEASED' BY TWR AS CLRNC TO TAXI INTO POS ON RWY FOR TKOF.

Narrative: AFTER RECEIVING AN IFR CLRNC AT AGC ARPT, I CONTACTED GND CTL FOR CLRNC TO TAXI. I WAS TOLD TO TAXI TO RWY 28 AND STAY WITH HIM FOR IFR RELEASE. JUST SHORT OF RWY 28, I WAS TOLD BY GND THAT I HAD BEEN RELEASED AND FLY HDG 250 DEGS. I TAXIED INTO POS FOR TKOF, SINCE THIS CTLR HAD SAID I WAS RELEASED AND HE HAD INSTRUCTED ME TO STAY ON HIS FREQ. AFTER ENTERING THE RWY, THE CTLR SAID HE HAD NOT CLRED ME FOR TKOF. I ASKED IF HE WANTED ME TO EXIT THE RWY AND HE SAID NO, AND THEN ISSUED ME A TKOF CLRNC. I BELIEVE THIS CONFUSION WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF PROPER ATC COMS WERE USED BY AGC CTL TWR. ALSO, I BELIEVE WHEN THE WORKLOAD IS SO LOW AT A NON BUSY TWR, THAT COMPLACENCY SETS IN REGARDING COMS AND TFC MGMNT.

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.