IMO, "cleared for take off" means power up and roll (assumed lined up). Pilots who sit there twiddling their thumbs forget that over the period of an hour, if every aircraft wasted one second, it effectively removes one movement in that hour.
Another bugbear is the dreaded medium following a 757. Our procedures do not require departure wake turbulence separation, yet many (non Uk european-based airlines) will ask for two minutes AFTER being given take off clearance. Tell us beforehand, or at the very least when given a conditional line up after a B757. And where wake turbulence spacing is required, we apply it from wheels up to wheels up and make an educated anticipation of your airborne time when issuing take off clearance.
Rant over. thank you
Last edited by hold at SATAN; 1st March 2013 at 22:35.