Citation V/Ultra/Encore (C560)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80; Flight Crew Total 9000; Flight Crew Type 3000
Other / Unknown; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
The PIC was the non-flying crew member on this leg. He had gotten the ATIS and clearance. He told me the routing and when we were ready to taxi we had to contact Tower for taxi. After engine start he contacted Tower for taxi; he gave us instructions then told us to contact Ground for further instructions. A little confusing; but we had an uneventful taxi. As we approached Runway 4L the Ground Controller instructed us to taxi into position; hold and contact Tower. Very confusing again. So I taxied us into position. This is when my partner must have missed switching the frequency. We sat in position for less than a minute when the Ground Controller cleared us for takeoff; I assume because Tower could not raise us. The Controller never said to get on the right frequency; just the takeoff clearance. So after takeoff they handed us off to departure and my partner had the wrong frequency and this time someone from Newark jumped all over him for missing numerous frequency changes. I continued to fly the airplane per the departure. I think I did correctly but who knows with the verbal chewing from ATC. My partner made a few mistakes but Newark's non-standard frequency changes did not help.
CE560 First Officer reports difficulties and errors attempting to communicate with ATC late one night while during taxi and takeoff from EWR.