B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 246; Flight Crew Type 17000
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
During takeoff roll Runway 01 (while setting takeoff N1); Tower Controller cleared an aircraft for takeoff on an intersecting runway. Tower stated to that aircraft; 'From intersection D; Runway 10; cleared for takeoff.' This was very alarming; as we had to determine where intersection 'D' was in relation to our takeoff roll. So while thrust was advanced on our rolling takeoff past 90 knots; I had to swipe back from my SID page to the 10-9 page and 'pinch out' to highlight where intersection D was. Quickly determining its location was one taxiway east of our position where the two runways intersected; about 2;500 feet had gone by approaching abeam Taxiway Romeo; and that's where we saw we were clear of the conflict. We continued the takeoff.It would have been useful to get a heads up from Tower that the departing aircraft was down line from the intersecting runway with a diverging heading. I feel a Tower clearance of this sort constitutes an unsafe practice; without receiving this mitigating information.
B737-700 Captain taking off on Runway 01; heard Tower Controller clear another aircraft for an intersection takeoff on intersecting Runway 10. Captain had to ascertain from the 10-9 page that the given intersection was past Runway 01 and would not be a conflict.