Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
I was working low volume traffic. There was a tour of three people in the tower cab which may have been a distraction. I had coordinated approval for a vehicle to work on Runway X/XY. A Citabria called ready to go Runway X/XY. I gave a quick scan of the runway and cleared the aircraft for departure on a runway heading forgetting about the vehicle that had been working for several minutes. Shortly after the aircraft had started his takeoff roll both the Ground Controller and one of the visitors said the vehicle was still on the runway. I cancelled the Citabria's takeoff clearance and held his position on the runway. He resumed his departure roll once the vehicle had cleared the runway and I had given him a takeoff clearance. I would recommend a thorough scan of the runway prior to clearing anybody for takeoff. I had just done a quick scan and missed the vehicle because it was parked along the edge of the runway. The runway in use memory aid was on the podium; but I did not glance at the podium when clearing the aircraft for takeoff. If I had been holding it instead it could have been prevented.
The Facility Manager was giving a tour to 2 people. I was working Ground Control (GC) and had coordinated a vehicle (C25) onto Runway X to fix a light. While C25 was on the runway; I taxied a Citabria to Runway X for a VFR departure. I had turned around to talk with the tour; we were discussing the towers South East of the field and their impact on our Conflict Alerts. I turned back around and scanned Runway X and noticed the Citabria was starting his takeoff roll. I pointed to him to ask if he was rolling because the vehicle was still on the runway; as I did that one of the people in the tour said there is a truck on the runway. As the Local Controller was cancelling the Citabria's takeoff I was telling C25 to exit the runway. Reduce the length of tours in the operating quarters. Have vehicles that will be operating on the runway monitoring both GC and LC frequencies.
Tower Controller cleared an aircraft for takeoff failing to note a previously coordinated vehicle still on the runway and necessitating a cancellation of the takeoff clearance.