Narrative:

After reporting to duty, we began preparation and flight planning for departure. Sav tower was closed and the ATIS reported the hours of operation and alternate frequencys (no NOTAM information). We used ZJX to obtain current WX (again, no mention of runway closures). The dispatch release was reviewed, showing runway 9 closed until XE00 local, and then signed. We pushed back around XE43 local time and announced on CTAF that we were taxiing to runway 9 and obtained a clearance and void time from ZJX. Our void time was XE58. We continued our taxi to runway 9 and announced on CTAF that we were taking runway 9. As we were taxiing onto the numbers, an airport ground vehicle called on CTAF saying that runway 9 was closed. (Contrary to the time frame published in NOTAM 10/099). We decided to clarify before proceeding and contacted ZJX to inform them that we would not be making our void time. They instructed us to contact sav upon opening (about 2 mins out). We queried ground personnel on CTAF as to which NOTAM declared runway 9 closed. They did not know other than it was closed until XF00 local. Just before XF00, sav tower broadcast that they were opened and to contact them in lieu of ATIS due to rapidly changing WX conditions (still no mention of runway closures). We obtained WX and a revised clearance from delivery and then contacted tower. Sav requested our position, which we gave, and we then were berated for being there. We asked if we needed to clear the runway, and we were told to hold our position. We inquired again about the NOTAM for runway 9 and were told it was sav local NOTAM 10/099 and that 'it had been out for quite a while.' a moment later, we were cleared for takeoff. Accelerating through 50 KTS, sav tower transmitted that 'there might be a pilot action regarding this.' we continued the takeoff and climb out. Prior to handoff to departure, I requested a phone number from sav tower so that we might further clarify the matter. Upon landing in lga, I called sav tower and they verified that a typographical error existed. The intent was to have the runway closed until XB00 local. I obtained the number for ZJX watch desk and called to verify the discrepancy with them as well. Supplemental information from acn 636054: sav runway 9/27 was closed by a NOTAM. The NOTAM, as published, was not changed. To the airport, the runway was closed by NOTAM until XF00 local. To the pilot, the runway opened at XE00 local. Macon AFSS admitted to the error. Paperwork almost caused a serious accident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLT CREW AND CTLR DESCRIBE A SYS FAILURE TO AMEND NOTAM, RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL RWY CONFLICT BTWN RPTR'S ACFT AND ARPT VEHICLES ON A CLOSED RWY.

Narrative: AFTER RPTING TO DUTY, WE BEGAN PREPARATION AND FLT PLANNING FOR DEP. SAV TWR WAS CLOSED AND THE ATIS RPTED THE HRS OF OP AND ALTERNATE FREQS (NO NOTAM INFO). WE USED ZJX TO OBTAIN CURRENT WX (AGAIN, NO MENTION OF RWY CLOSURES). THE DISPATCH RELEASE WAS REVIEWED, SHOWING RWY 9 CLOSED UNTIL XE00 LOCAL, AND THEN SIGNED. WE PUSHED BACK AROUND XE43 LOCAL TIME AND ANNOUNCED ON CTAF THAT WE WERE TAXIING TO RWY 9 AND OBTAINED A CLRNC AND VOID TIME FROM ZJX. OUR VOID TIME WAS XE58. WE CONTINUED OUR TAXI TO RWY 9 AND ANNOUNCED ON CTAF THAT WE WERE TAKING RWY 9. AS WE WERE TAXIING ONTO THE NUMBERS, AN ARPT GND VEHICLE CALLED ON CTAF SAYING THAT RWY 9 WAS CLOSED. (CONTRARY TO THE TIME FRAME PUBLISHED IN NOTAM 10/099). WE DECIDED TO CLARIFY BEFORE PROCEEDING AND CONTACTED ZJX TO INFORM THEM THAT WE WOULD NOT BE MAKING OUR VOID TIME. THEY INSTRUCTED US TO CONTACT SAV UPON OPENING (ABOUT 2 MINS OUT). WE QUERIED GND PERSONNEL ON CTAF AS TO WHICH NOTAM DECLARED RWY 9 CLOSED. THEY DID NOT KNOW OTHER THAN IT WAS CLOSED UNTIL XF00 LOCAL. JUST BEFORE XF00, SAV TWR BROADCAST THAT THEY WERE OPENED AND TO CONTACT THEM IN LIEU OF ATIS DUE TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WX CONDITIONS (STILL NO MENTION OF RWY CLOSURES). WE OBTAINED WX AND A REVISED CLRNC FROM DELIVERY AND THEN CONTACTED TWR. SAV REQUESTED OUR POS, WHICH WE GAVE, AND WE THEN WERE BERATED FOR BEING THERE. WE ASKED IF WE NEEDED TO CLR THE RWY, AND WE WERE TOLD TO HOLD OUR POS. WE INQUIRED AGAIN ABOUT THE NOTAM FOR RWY 9 AND WERE TOLD IT WAS SAV LCL NOTAM 10/099 AND THAT 'IT HAD BEEN OUT FOR QUITE A WHILE.' A MOMENT LATER, WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF. ACCELERATING THROUGH 50 KTS, SAV TWR XMITTED THAT 'THERE MIGHT BE A PLT ACTION REGARDING THIS.' WE CONTINUED THE TKOF AND CLBOUT. PRIOR TO HDOF TO DEP, I REQUESTED A PHONE NUMBER FROM SAV TWR SO THAT WE MIGHT FURTHER CLARIFY THE MATTER. UPON LNDG IN LGA, I CALLED SAV TWR AND THEY VERIFIED THAT A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR EXISTED. THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE THE RWY CLOSED UNTIL XB00 LOCAL. I OBTAINED THE NUMBER FOR ZJX WATCH DESK AND CALLED TO VERIFY THE DISCREPANCY WITH THEM AS WELL. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 636054: SAV RWY 9/27 WAS CLOSED BY A NOTAM. THE NOTAM, AS PUBLISHED, WAS NOT CHANGED. TO THE ARPT, THE RWY WAS CLOSED BY NOTAM UNTIL XF00 LOCAL. TO THE PLT, THE RWY OPENED AT XE00 LOCAL. MACON AFSS ADMITTED TO THE ERROR. PAPERWORK ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

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.