Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
The incident took place at Bogotá Eldorado International airport. We were on Taxiway A holding short of Taxiway L preparing to depart Runway 31R. Tower Control then issued taxi instructions 'position and hold Runway 31R'. We asked the Tower if they meant 'line up and wait 31R' and Tower reissued 'position and hold 31R'. We then believed the Tower Control meant 'line up and wait'. We then taxied the aircraft into line up and wait on Runway 31R. When on the runway; we noticed an aircraft on a modified base to final for Runway 13L. We immediately called the Tower about the approaching aircraft (approximately 4 mile final). Tower the issued a go around to the aircraft for Runway 13L. The aircraft were never in danger of collision. After the go around we were allowed to depart Runway 31R with out incident. It's my belief the incident was 100% caused by language barrier and non standard ATC phraseology. I believe Tower meant for us to 'hold short' of Runway 31R and should not have used the word 'position' in their clearance which was the old phraseology for 'position and hold'. The situational awareness was made worse by the Tower in giving ATC instructions to the arriving aircraft in Spanish which did not allow us to have a more clear understanding of the intentions of ATC and aircraft in the traffic pattern.
We were cleared via M; R and A to Runway 31R for departure. We were instructed to hold short of Taxiway L; which is located about 1;000 FT prior to the approach end of Runway 31R; and is the last intersecting taxiway on A. Holding short for about 3 to 5 minutes; Tower instructed us to 'taxi position and hold;' which we interpreted as to mean the obsolete wording of 'taxi INTO position and hold;' now ('line-up and wait'). After starting to taxi; the Captain asked the First Officer to confirm that we were cleared to taxi onto the runway and hold. The First Officer asked the Tower; 'confirm taxi into position and hold;' which the Tower acknowledged: '(call-sign) taxi position and hold.' We then performed our takeoff checklist; including turning the nose wheel landing light and white strobe lights to 'ON;' and taxied on to Runway 31R and lined up. While doing so we saw another airplane on short final (approximately 500-800 FT AGL) on the opposite Runway 13L. At this point the Captain stated; 'This does not look right;' and then asked the Tower; 'Bogota Tower; should we be on the runway? We are on the runway!' SKBO Tower answered; '(call-sign) hold your position!' then in Spanish ordered the other airplane to go-around. We were subsequently cleared for takeoff. I believe the following contributed to the runway incursion: 1) non-standard and heavily accented phraseology by Tower (who may have meant 'taxi and hold short Runway 31R.) 2) Ambiguity by the First Officer to clarify the Tower clearance (he should have asked: 'confirm (call-sign) is cleared to line up and wait Runway 31R). 3) Loss of some situational awareness by B767 crew (us) because we did not know there was another airplane on final; since the communication between that airplane and Tower was in Spanish.
B767 flight crew reports being issued reports being issued a position and hold clearance by SKBO Tower. After double checking the crew lines up on Runway 31R and observes and aircraft turning final for Runway 13L and advises the Tower. The Tower issues a go around to the landing aircraft.