Narrative:

At cle holding short of runway 23L at taxiway west, we were instructed to cross runway 23L on taxiway west, back taxi into position and hold on runway 23R. After crossing runway 23L, we became confused due to poor runway/taxiway markings and had to ask for further clarification. We were told to taxi west, south, runway 10/28 to runway 23L. We became further confused trying to find taxiway south and runway 10/28. The captain stopped the aircraft and requested a progressive taxi. As we followed the controller's instructions and approached runway 23R on runway 10/28, we observed an aircraft on final approach. Being unsure if he was landing runway 23R or runway 23L, we stopped short of runway 23R. The landing traffic was now approaching the overrun and clearly landing on runway 23R. We understood our clearance to still be position and hold on runway 23R, since this was not specifically deleted nor were we given instructions to hold short until we notified tower we were holding short just prior to other aircraft's landing on runway 23R. This is first time I have ever needed to request progressive taxi in 6 yrs with this carrier, and the first time I've seen a plane land right in front of me with clearance into position and hold. In addition, I have flown to cle frequently, and prior to this, was pretty comfortable with the layout and associated problems.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 ACFT TAXIING AT CLE, FLC BECAME CONFUSED ABOUT TAXI CLRNC AND REQUESTED PROGRESSIVE GUIDANCE. WHEN APCHING RWY 23, WHERE THE FLC HAD BEEN CLRED INTO POS, THEY STOPPED WHEN SEEING AN ACFT ON FINAL APCH FOR THAT RWY.

Narrative: AT CLE HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 23L AT TXWY W, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CROSS RWY 23L ON TXWY W, BACK TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD ON RWY 23R. AFTER XING RWY 23L, WE BECAME CONFUSED DUE TO POOR RWY/TXWY MARKINGS AND HAD TO ASK FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION. WE WERE TOLD TO TAXI W, S, RWY 10/28 TO RWY 23L. WE BECAME FURTHER CONFUSED TRYING TO FIND TXWY S AND RWY 10/28. THE CAPT STOPPED THE ACFT AND REQUESTED A PROGRESSIVE TAXI. AS WE FOLLOWED THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS AND APCHED RWY 23R ON RWY 10/28, WE OBSERVED AN ACFT ON FINAL APCH. BEING UNSURE IF HE WAS LNDG RWY 23R OR RWY 23L, WE STOPPED SHORT OF RWY 23R. THE LNDG TFC WAS NOW APCHING THE OVERRUN AND CLRLY LNDG ON RWY 23R. WE UNDERSTOOD OUR CLRNC TO STILL BE POS AND HOLD ON RWY 23R, SINCE THIS WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY DELETED NOR WERE WE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO HOLD SHORT UNTIL WE NOTIFIED TWR WE WERE HOLDING SHORT JUST PRIOR TO OTHER ACFT'S LNDG ON RWY 23R. THIS IS FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER NEEDED TO REQUEST PROGRESSIVE TAXI IN 6 YRS WITH THIS CARRIER, AND THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN A PLANE LAND RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME WITH CLRNC INTO POS AND HOLD. IN ADDITION, I HAVE FLOWN TO CLE FREQUENTLY, AND PRIOR TO THIS, WAS PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THE LAYOUT AND ASSOCIATED PROBS.

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.