Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Person / Animal / Bird
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
We were waiting to take off. The aircraft that took off ahead of us reported hitting birds on take off. The controller asked if they hit the birds directly over the runway; the crew confirmed it was. We were next for takeoff when the controller asked if we had heard the report from the aircraft ahead. We said we did. Tower then delivered a caution about possible FOD (Foreign Object Debris) and birds on the runway and cleared us for takeoff. We refused the clearance and asked that the runway be inspected. We were then informed that it would take a long time for an inspection; we said we will wait. This seemed to aggravate the controller. Tower continued to give takeoff clearances until eventually no one wanted to go until the runway was inspected. This seemed to expedite the runway getting inspected. Once it was deemed safe and free from FOD; takeoffs resumed.I then reached out to an airport authority and their ATC group. They informed me that they have an agreement between the ATC and the Airport Authority about such events. If at their airport that same report was made on takeoff they stated the runway would have been closed for an inspection. They also stated it takes less than 5 minutes At DFW I waited longer than that due to refusing the takeoff clearance.I then took the question to the APA National Safety Committee and asked what they knew about procedure when this happens. Coincidentally; on that call was another pilot that had the same thing happened to them at a different airport. As we have been researching this we are finding there is no standardization from airport to airport on this. Some airports have written agreements between ATC and Airport Authorities and others don't. Does this infer that certain airports take safety more seriously than another? It is factual that the Captain will always have final authority. But shouldn't ATC procedures across the system be uniform with regard to concerns with the runway condition? To give a takeoff clearance with no attempt to inspect the runway in order to keep traffic moving seems at odds with a culture of safety.
Air carrier pilot reported they refused a takeoff clearance after the preceding departure reported a bird strike over the runway.