Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 20000; Flight Crew Type 5000
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Procedure; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
Departing SFO we required either Runway 28L or R for departure. We were cleared by ground to taxi to and hold short of 28L. Tower subsequently cleared us to cross 28L and taxi into position and hold on 28R. As I taxied between the runways I looked out on final and it appeared that a plane was approaching 28R for landing; approximately 1/2 mile out. My copilot was briefly heads-down changing the runway and takeoff data in the FMC. I asked him to look out; and he agreed that it did appear a plane was approaching the runway we were cleared for. I asked him to tell Tower we were holding short; and Tower immediately insisted we were cleared into position and hold. My copilot replied that there was a plane landing right in front of us. The Tower Controller seemed confused; and as the plane passed by; he said OK; we were now cleared into position and hold. The landing airplane was told to go around; from less than 30 FT above the runway. We taxied on to the runway and were subsequently cleared for takeoff. The rest of the departure was normal. I am certain that if I had not visually cleared final and stopped before taking the runway it would have at the least been a very near miss. If I had continued as cleared and the arriving plane had not seen us or been able to react in time; we would have collided.
ATC cleared an aircraft to line up and wait on SFO Runway 28R; but the crew held short because they saw an aircraft on short final which ultimately did land on 28R.