Medium Large Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 17000; Flight Crew Type 280
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
I was the PF and thus I conducted the departure briefing. We anticipated 8R and the SUMMT9 departure; as well as a very short taxi; thus we decided to start both engines on pushback during the brief. We pushed back; entered the takeoff data during the push and started both engines. Ramp Tower had instructed us to contact ATL Ground when ready; which we did. We waited for one company aircraft to pass in front of us and were then cleared to 8R via Echo. There were no other aircraft in front of us thus it was apparent we would be number one for takeoff once arriving at the runway. This taxi took not much more than one minute. In quick succession we ran the taxi checklist and before takeoff checklist during which we were passed to the tower frequency. Immediately once on the tower frequency we were cleared into position and hold 8R. I was running the before takeoff checklist at this same time. As we entered the runway; the Captain told me I had the throttles and asked would I like a rolling takeoff; I must assume believing we had been cleared for takeoff. Without thinking I agreed and we took off without a takeoff clearance.Once airborne Tower asked us if we had received a takeoff clearance; which at that time it was clear to me that we had not. I have no information as to whether we had put the airplane in jeopardy; however our climb via the SUMMT9 proceed normally.I would in part attribute this deviation to the very compressed taxi time and checklist workload. This situation can be common; but combined with an immediate clearance on to runway; lead to the error of my loss of Situational Awareness (SA) as to our clearance. Corrective actions would be continuing awareness for crews to slow down a bit; especially as number one to the runway; to ensure each crew member has the correct SA.
Air carrier First Officer reports taking off on Runway 8R at ATL without clearance after a short taxi. They had been cleared to line up and wait; but the tower said nothing until the flight was airborne.