Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Procedure; Airport
We were cleared to Runway 24L for departure; sequenced behind an A380. Approaching the hold-short line we observed an official vehicle parked at the hold-short line. We stopped well short of the vehicle. When we asked Tower about the vehicle they explained it was a runway FOD sweeper used after every 'super' takeoff. They further noted that we should have stopped at the line painted on Taxiway E prior to the hold-short line to accommodate the vehicle. We did not see the line. The First Officer was in the process of changing to a full-power takeoff to stay above the A380's wake. I was focused on staying well back from the A380's taxi thrust. There is no reference to the line on the airport and/or info pages about this line. As we approached the hold-short line; both of us were busy reacting to the A380. Had we been aware of the existence of the A380 line we would have been looking for it. It is probably a good time to canvas all of our airports that support A380 traffic for similar practices and markings.
Following an A380 to Runway 24L at LAX the Captain of a large transport aircraft noted an airport vehicle waiting aft of the A380 near the hold short line. When inquiring as to its presence with ATC they were advised it was a sweeper truck used to clear the runway of debris after every 'Super' takeoff; and that there was a separate line behind them at which they should have stopped to avoid the vehicle and not interfere with the runway clearing. The reporter had not seen the line and was unable to find any airport reference to it or its purpose.