Narrative:

I was working ground control/flight data/clearance delivery (ground control/FD/clearance delivery) while a trainee was assigned to plug in and monitor the local control-south controller. The local control-south controller was using the trainee to coordinate IFR departure releases with me. I acknowledged the trainee's request for releases; subsequently the trainee would acknowledge my coordination of released or hold for release after I made the request to the IFR facility. I made my announcement out loud so the local control-south controller could hear; but only the trainee would acknowledge me. I request release of aircraft X after the trainee gave me the strip and asked for released. I gave the strip back to the trainee and said hold for release. The trainee acknowledged the coordination and I heard the local control-south controller tell the aircraft to expect delay because the aircraft that just departed was also an IFR aircraft. Approximately 7 minutes later I got distracted with ground control/FD/clearance delivery duties and heard the trainee excitedly say 'no; he hasn't been released.' I saw aircraft X on the runway preparing to align itself with the runway. The trainee turns to me and asked 'he hasn't been released?' I reply 'no; he hasn't been released.' the local control-south apologizes to the pilot and directs him to exit the runway. The local control-south controller says 'oh; I thought he was released.' I never implied to the local control-south controller or the trainee that the aircraft was released. Approximately 2 minutes later the release for aircraft X came on the landline. Due to my attention on other duties; I would have not caught the local control-south controller's error and I believe he would have cleared the aircraft without IFR authority. Subsequently giving himself and myself an operational deviation with the IFR facility. Local control-south controller should pay attention and not hear things that were never said. The strip wasn't even marked as released; at least not by me. Not sure where he got the idea that the aircraft was released.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DVT Ground Controller described a confused IFR release event when accurate coordination with the Local Controller failed and a takeoff clearance had to be rescinded.

Narrative: I was working Ground Control/Flight Data/Clearance Delivery (GC/FD/CD) while a trainee was assigned to plug in and monitor the LC-S Controller. The LC-S Controller was using the Trainee to coordinate IFR departure releases with me. I acknowledged the Trainee's request for releases; subsequently the Trainee would acknowledge my coordination of released or hold for release after I made the request to the IFR facility. I made my announcement out loud so the LC-S Controller could hear; but only the Trainee would acknowledge me. I request release of Aircraft X after the Trainee gave me the strip and asked for released. I gave the strip back to the Trainee and said hold for release. The Trainee acknowledged the coordination and I heard the LC-S Controller tell the aircraft to expect delay because the aircraft that just departed was also an IFR aircraft. Approximately 7 minutes later I got distracted with GC/FD/CD duties and heard the Trainee excitedly say 'no; he hasn't been released.' I saw Aircraft X on the runway preparing to align itself with the runway. The Trainee turns to me and asked 'he hasn't been released?' I reply 'no; he hasn't been released.' The LC-S apologizes to the pilot and directs him to exit the runway. The LC-S Controller says 'oh; I thought he was released.' I never implied to the LC-S Controller or the Trainee that the aircraft was released. Approximately 2 minutes later the release for Aircraft X came on the landline. Due to my attention on other duties; I would have not caught the LC-S Controller's error and I believe he would have cleared the aircraft without IFR authority. Subsequently giving himself and myself an operational deviation with the IFR facility. LC-S Controller should pay attention and not hear things that were never said. The strip wasn't even marked as released; at least not by me. Not sure where he got the idea that the aircraft was released.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.