Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Time Pressure; Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Procedure; Human Factors
We departed from ORD; and skipped the Before Takeoff Checklist above the line. We taxied out behind a [heavy] B757 and realized that we would have to get normal takeoff performance. We sent for the numbers; but unfortunately we received an ACARS NOCOMM message instead. The FO used the release and the performance cards to reset the speeds and the flaps from 8 to 20 degrees. The tower then resequenced us behind an MD80; so we reset the speeds and the flaps back to the original numbers. When our turn came the tower instructed us to line up and wait and said that it would be 2 minutes for wake turbulence for a heavy landing on the crossing runway. As I started to move forward; the Tower then issued an immediate takeoff clearance with crossing traffic on a two mile final and I rushed.As has been said many times; don't let ATC rush you! I allowed external distractions to overwhelm me for a few minutes. I should have stuck with normal thrust and not tried to reset back to flex thrust. And I should not have accepted the immediate takeoff clearance.
On the after takeoff check I noticed that the auto cross-flow override was not illuminated. This cued me that we had not done a before takeoff check to the line. I had verified that we had our MINTO (Minimum Takeoff) fuel on the roll out to the runway as usual but failed to notice the missing items. This included getting a verbal conformation of 'cabin secure' from the flight attendants. We later found out that they were both in the galley as we rolled onto the runway and the aft FA was making her way to the back during the beginning of our takeoff roll.The largest factors leading to this event were resetting the takeoff numbers multiple times while being close to the departure runway; and being rushed out by ATC so they could get us out between arriving aircraft on the crossing runway. Personally I will be sure to look for the 'Man X-Flow' during the CAS (Crew Alert Signal) line on the before takeoff check below the line; and be more willing to not accept a rushed departure.
CRJ700 flight crew and Flight Attendant reported changes to their takeoff clearance distracted the flight crew and caused them to takeoff before completing checklists and alerting the Flight Attendants.