Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Human Factors
We pushed back form the gate at ISN approximately 5 minutes early for the last leg of a two day. We taxied out to Runway 11 which was the wind favored runway. A Phenom Jet had taxied out just prior to us and a CRJ-200 was about to taxi behind us. I did not notice any other traffic at the airport. My First Officer made calls on the CTAF as we were exiting the ramp and crossing the crosswind Runway 2-20. The other two aircraft were also making their respective position reports as they taxied. We held short of Runway 11 to pick up our clearance. As my First Officer was picking up the clearance; I was monitoring CTAF as well has monitoring the FSS that we were getting our clearance from. Because of the way the hold short bars for Runway 11 are placed; we were facing west and could not see any of the aircraft behind us. While picking up our clearance; I heard the CRJ-200 announcing they were crossing [Runway] 2-20; I did not recall hearing any additional radio calls. I announced on the CTAF that we were holding short of [Runway] 11 awaiting IFR release. The FSS issued our clearance and released us with a clearance void time in approximately 5 minutes. Upon receiving the clearance; we finished briefing the clearance; completed the before takeoff checklist; and then began taxi onto the runway. My First Officer announced that we were taking Runway 11. It sounded as though his radio call was stepped on so he announced it a second time. As we turned around and lined up with [Runway] 11 I saw what at first looked like the runway end approach lights on. I heard a call on the radio that sounded something like 'You guys are using 11? We will get off'; at that point I realized that a Citation Jet had taken position on Runway 29 and the lights I was looking at were in fact the Citation. The Citation then taxied clear of the runway. We made visual as well as verbal confirmation with the Citation to ensure the runway was clear and then began our takeoff roll. The takeoff and climb out were normal. After takeoff I contacted the CRJ-200 crew and asked them if they had heard the Citation making any radio calls during the taxi. They responded that they did not and because they were behind us; did not see what had occurred. The primary threat here was the fact that we were operating out of an uncontrolled field. While my First Officer did a good job making CTAF announcements; not all do. The expectation we as airline pilots have that the other guys will be doing the same thing we are is certainly not applicable to uncontrolled fields. In this case; with three jets all taking off on [Runway] 11 and with the wind favoring [Runway] 11; I wouldn't have expected another jet to try and depart the opposite direction. The way the hold short bars for Runway 11 are positioned was also a threat that did not allow us to visually clear the runway until we had taken it. While the day was not particularly fatiguing; it was the last leg of a trip and we were all worried about making our commutes or being reassigned - thus there was possibly an element of get there-it-us that may have tuned out outside information. This is obviously a reminder that operations at uncontrolled airports require special attention. I operate out of uncontrolled fields usually at least once per trip - the main point is to make sure we are making position reports but to also expect the other guy to do the unexpected. I have noticed that not all our crews do the best job of making CTAF reports. Perhaps it would be good for the company to incorporate uncontrolled field operations into the quarterly CBT.
An air carrier Captain reports lining up on Runway 11 at ISN to discover a Citation jet preparing to takeoff on Runway 29. The Citation crew had not made any CTAF calls and elects to taxi clear of the runway.