EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Weather
While holding short of 23L; ATC cleared us for takeoff. We began to pull forward to take the runway when we noticed an aircraft break out of the clouds on short final. We mentioned to each other that the aircraft looked fairly close but it was difficult to tell with the visibility. We stopped with our nose barely over the hold short line and questioned ATC. He then said we were clear for takeoff on Runway 23R. We reminded him that we were on 23L and he then stated to hold short and thanked us for questioning the takeoff clearance. The other aircraft landed without any further issue. We should have questioned ATC before taking the runway once we saw the landing lights and aircraft break out of the clouds.
While holding short of Runway 23L; we were cleared for Takeoff. I did see an aircraft on final approach; but with the low visibility it was hard to gauge the distance. In hindsight; I think I had an optical Illusion happen when I was viewing the aircraft on final approach. Due to the low visibility; I saw that the lights of the aircraft were looking small (thinking it was a bigger aircraft that was further away); but instead it was a smaller aircraft that was closer. We started to taxi onto the runway and the aircraft broke out of the clouds and was on a short final. We stop immediately and queried ATC. They had us hold our position and the aircraft landed safely. It seemed that the Tower controller was confused about which runway we were occupying and didn't seem to be aware of the landing aircraft on our same runway. I should have queried ATC before we took the runway; since I did see the Landing lights of the aircraft on final approach. I could have used our TCAS to figure out the distance of the landing aircraft from us.
EMB175 flight crew reports being cleared for takeoff with an aircraft on short final. The aircraft is stopped just over the hold short line and the Tower is queried. The Tower confirms the hold short after learning the crew is holding at Runway 23L and not 23R.