Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 30000; Flight Crew Type 10000
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Airspace Structure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport; Procedure; Human Factors
The pilot flying wanted to fly the aircraft and delegated the radio operation to me. We were in position for takeoff short of Runway 32 in number 2 position. There were several aircraft arriving at the same time. The controller was transmitting on both Lake Hood and Anchorage International Airport's frequency at the same time on the same frequency. The tower informed us to standby instead of saying 'Hold Short of Runway 32' for arriving traffic and the tower immediately transmitted to another aircraft. The number one aircraft was cleared for takeoff. A short time later both the pilot and I heard 'Cleared for Takeoff' with some background interference. While I entered the downwind on my 360 turn for altitude the controller tried to call me 3 times and the transmission was blocked by other aircraft on the same frequency 126.8. I received a call from the controller saying 'Possible deviation when able contact Anchorage Tower; standby for phone number'. To prevent this occurrence in the future I would suggest that there be one controller for Anchorage Tower (118.3) and one controller for Lake Hood Tower (126.8) especially when Lake Hood is busy. Transmitting on two frequencies at the same time is not a good operating practice and will lead to future problems. Also the term Roger or Standby should be readdressed as 'Hold Short of Runway 32 at Lake Hood for arriving traffic' and make sure the pilot repeats the clearance in the order given. As an example; Merrill Field Tower requires that the controller transmit Hold Short instructions and requires the pilot read back Hold Short instructions or the controller will say again repeat the Hold Short instructions prior to takeoff.
An aircraft heard a garbled transmission saying 'cleared for takeoff.' The pilot assumed it was for their flight. The takeoff clearance was for a different aircraft. The adjacent airport Control Tower also controls this airport and was transmitting and receiving on two frequencies.