A330
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors; Weather
We broke out about 600 AGL and both the First Officer and I noticed an aircraft was in position holding but we had been cleared to land. The First Officer queried Tower if an airplane was holding on the runway. The aircraft on the runway answered in the affirmative and we initiated a go-around from below 500 FT as Tower issued us go-around instructions. We executed the go-around and came back around the pattern and landed safely. Had visibility been more restricted; this could have been disastrous.
Told by Tower to line up and wait on [Runway] 36C. While waiting on the runway we heard another aircraft warning that there was an aircraft on the runway (us) and then Tower ordered a go-around of a heavy aircraft which we heard fly right over us. Then Tower cancelled our takeoff clearance [although] we had only received a clearance to line up and wait. After wake turbulence separation we were then cleared for takeoff.Tower must slow down when the weather moves in and check the separation between landings and takeoffs.
A serious ground conflict occurred when an MD80 flight crew understanding they were cleared only to LUAW on the active runway; remained on the runway when an A330 broke out of the overcast on final about 500 AGL. An aircraft holding short noted the conflict and alerted the conflicted aircraft and ATC. The landing aircraft executed a go-around. ATC believed the LUAW aircraft had been cleared for takeoff.