Small aircraft taxies to military restr area.

Attributes
ACN	209032
Time
Date	199202
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fok
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	209032
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Airport	other physical facility procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

I contacted fok ground control from the main ramp (near the tower) and was instructed to taxi to runway 33. I was unfamiliar with the airport, but did have a commercial guide taxi diagram. The diagram showed a fork in the ramp, either of which forks would lead to 33. After taxiing near a group of military helicopters (parked -- not moving or occupied), I was stopped by a military officer, who informed me that I was on an off-limits military area, which was demarcated by a 'red line.' I produced identify and left the area, received a progressive taxi from ground, without incident. Given that the military ramp area is a logical place to taxi through to get to 33, and that a yellow taxi line leads through this area, this incident could easily have been avoided by a simple sign that says 'military personnel only.' the 'red line' referred to by the officer is not prominent. In the future, especially when observing military equipment, I will ask for a progressive taxi if in doubt.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA TAXIES TO MIL RESTR AREA.

Narrative: I CONTACTED FOK GND CTL FROM THE MAIN RAMP (NEAR THE TWR) AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAXI TO RWY 33. I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT, BUT DID HAVE A COMMERCIAL GUIDE TAXI DIAGRAM. THE DIAGRAM SHOWED A FORK IN THE RAMP, EITHER OF WHICH FORKS WOULD LEAD TO 33. AFTER TAXIING NEAR A GROUP OF MIL HELIS (PARKED -- NOT MOVING OR OCCUPIED), I WAS STOPPED BY A MIL OFFICER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT I WAS ON AN OFF-LIMITS MIL AREA, WHICH WAS DEMARCATED BY A 'RED LINE.' I PRODUCED IDENT AND LEFT THE AREA, RECEIVED A PROGRESSIVE TAXI FROM GND, WITHOUT INCIDENT. GIVEN THAT THE MIL RAMP AREA IS A LOGICAL PLACE TO TAXI THROUGH TO GET TO 33, AND THAT A YELLOW TAXI LINE LEADS THROUGH THIS AREA, THIS INCIDENT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY A SIMPLE SIGN THAT SAYS 'MIL PERSONNEL ONLY.' THE 'RED LINE' REFERRED TO BY THE OFFICER IS NOT PROMINENT. IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN OBSERVING MIL EQUIP, I WILL ASK FOR A PROGRESSIVE TAXI IF IN DOUBT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.