Date: 201908
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: MCO.Airport, FL
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Dawn
Aircraft: Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Corporate
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Ferry / Re-Positioning
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Tower MCO
Reporter organization: Corporate
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Confusion
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Taxi
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Airport; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: The pilot flying; PF; was in the left seat taxiing the aircraft north bound on taxiway A for an 18R departure. I was the pilot monitoring; PM; in the right seat running the taxi checklist. As we approached taxiway J the PF requested a taxiway J departure. I reviewed the takeoff performance and runway required to confirm we would adequate runway available with a taxiway J departure on Runway 18R. After confirming our performance allowed for a taxiway J departure I requested the departure and it was approved by Tower. Tower asked if we would be ready upon approaching 18R hold short line the PF confirmed he would be ready. Tower cleared us for an 18R taxiway J departure. I looked to my right to confirm the runway and approach was clear prior to entering the runway and announced 'Clear right' [and] the PF also announced 'Clear left'. I began running the 'LINE UP' and 'CLEARED for TAKEOFF' checklists. The checklist requires turning on landing and anti-collision lights as well as the pitot static system; and reconfirming the flaps; altitude; V-Speeds; and trim settings. The PF announced he was approaching the centerline of 18R as I was finishing up the checklists. I looked up and noticed he was approaching solid line not a broken line like centerlines and the lights were wrong. I looked to my right and observed the center of the runway. I immediately announced he was lining up on the left edge of the runway and the center of the runway was to our right. The PF steered the aircraft back towards the centerline and took off. The possible contributing factors were it was night. I had my head down completing the required checklists while the PF lined up on the runway. The rushed nature of an intersection takeoff. The lack of following taxi line or lead-on lights which I don't recall were on or off. The way the taxiway continued across the runway could allow for the appearance of lining up on a centerline. The runway has a blacktop surface on the right side of the runway that could have given the illusion of being the edge of the runway and therefore creating a visual clue to proceed further to the left edge of the actual runway. I'm not sure how the PF missed the actual centerline lights and other visual clues of the runway centerline and crossed over it aiming for the runway edge. The PF stated to me he didn't see the line leading him to the centerline. The PF is a very experienced pilot with thousands of single pilot hours flying multi engine turboprop airplanes. The PF and myself have flown together for the last six months including over 60 hours in two different jet types. I've observed him to be a competent pilot. In the future when I'm the PM I will remain heads up during the taxi until it is confirmed the PF is lining up on the actual centerline of the correct runway. I will also confirm the crew is ready and not rushed; which could have been a contributing factor in this case. In this particular case not only were we still on the ground but we were 30 minutes ahead of schedule.




Synopsis: Corporate jet Captain reported pilot flying was confused with runway lead on lines resulting in lining up on edge of runway.