bstratt
Cleared for Takeoff
I usually fly out of a towered field where I get IFR clearance on the ground, or out of uncontrolled fields where I open in the air after departure (providing I can take off VFR of course). So my first instinct when someone says "Cleared to depart" is to move onto the runway and take off.
The other day I was at an uncontrolled field under a Class C shelf and the instructions gave a radio frequency to obtain clearances from Departure at the big airport. I started the plane and contacted Departure. They gave me the clearance as per normal but then immediately said "Stand by for read back". Figuring they were busy I just acknowledged.
After a minute or two listening to Departure talking non-stop with other planes, and as there were no other planes moving or waiting at this airport, I decided to taxi to the active - Switched Comm 1 to listen only and Comm 2 to talk on CTAF, I announced my intentions and taxiied to the hold short on the active. While holding short, and after my run up, which now made total time approaching ten minutes, I was afraid he had forgotten me. I switched back to Comm 1 and advised "N3904X ready to read back clearance". This was followed by a curt "N3904X standby".
I figured they were really busy and so I better not miss the call so I turned off the "listen" on Comm 2. Finally I got "N3904X, read back clearance" - which I did. I received a "N3904X, cleared to depart, fly runway heading until 2,000 then right turn to a heading of 270, advise when passing through 3,000."
As I was reading back I started to advance the throttle to move onto the active. Shear habit caused me to look up to the left only to see a biz jet on VERY short final. Hit the brakes hard, switched to Comm 2 and told him I had seen him and stopped and asked if he was still okay to land (I was about halfway over the hold short line). He advised he was fine, he landed, I moved into position and hold, he cleared and I took off.
A momentary brain fart on my behalf but I'll always remember the lesson - remember where you are!
The other day I was at an uncontrolled field under a Class C shelf and the instructions gave a radio frequency to obtain clearances from Departure at the big airport. I started the plane and contacted Departure. They gave me the clearance as per normal but then immediately said "Stand by for read back". Figuring they were busy I just acknowledged.
After a minute or two listening to Departure talking non-stop with other planes, and as there were no other planes moving or waiting at this airport, I decided to taxi to the active - Switched Comm 1 to listen only and Comm 2 to talk on CTAF, I announced my intentions and taxiied to the hold short on the active. While holding short, and after my run up, which now made total time approaching ten minutes, I was afraid he had forgotten me. I switched back to Comm 1 and advised "N3904X ready to read back clearance". This was followed by a curt "N3904X standby".
I figured they were really busy and so I better not miss the call so I turned off the "listen" on Comm 2. Finally I got "N3904X, read back clearance" - which I did. I received a "N3904X, cleared to depart, fly runway heading until 2,000 then right turn to a heading of 270, advise when passing through 3,000."
As I was reading back I started to advance the throttle to move onto the active. Shear habit caused me to look up to the left only to see a biz jet on VERY short final. Hit the brakes hard, switched to Comm 2 and told him I had seen him and stopped and asked if he was still okay to land (I was about halfway over the hold short line). He advised he was fine, he landed, I moved into position and hold, he cleared and I took off.
A momentary brain fart on my behalf but I'll always remember the lesson - remember where you are!
