Narrative:

After pushback from gate xx as noted on the enclosed 10-9 el paso taxi diagram, aircraft (B727) was faced east in anticipation of using runway 8R. After we left the gate area we realized that we were within 3000 pounds of maximum weight for runway 8R, but had a much better margin on runway 4. As we approached the area south of the runway 8R stopway/taxiway opposite taxiway G, the ground controller cleared us to runway 4. His words were 'taxi to runway 4.' I saw the yellow/black signs depicting taxiway east. I did not see any red/white runway signs to indicate we may be entering a runway. Due to construction on the ramp, it would have been difficult to execute a 180 degree turn back on taxiway D, and since we had an unrestr taxi clearance, I planned to use taxiway east. As we proceeded toward taxiway east (at the same time completing the after start and taxi checklists), ground control advised us to hold our position, stop immediately, that we were about to enter the runway 8R stopway. Subsequently, he cleared us to use the stopway to taxi to taxiway F and taxiway D and taxiway C to runway 4. Obviously, we overlooked the tiny footnote in the inset on the plate that states 'do not cross without approval.' I think this is a trap, particularly since the signs on the stopway/taxiway are the normal yellow/black. Even the hold short point for runway 4 was very difficult to identify. These markings and lack of markings are not consistent with the industry efforts at improving safety. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter claims they did not notice a hold line across the pavement leading to runway 8R and the stopway taxiway east. Reporter also reiterated that it was difficult to determine the hold short point for runway 4 and indicated that they were closer than expected to runway 4 while maneuvering for takeoff.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR B727 FLC MISSED NOTE ON ARPT CHART REQUIRING APPROVAL TO CROSS RWY 8R STOPWAY TXWY AND ALMOST ENTERED IT. RPTR ALLEGES THE STOPWAY TXWY E IS MARKED WITH STANDARD YELLOW AND BLACK TXWY SIGNS.

Narrative: AFTER PUSHBACK FROM GATE XX AS NOTED ON THE ENCLOSED 10-9 EL PASO TAXI DIAGRAM, ACFT (B727) WAS FACED E IN ANTICIPATION OF USING RWY 8R. AFTER WE LEFT THE GATE AREA WE REALIZED THAT WE WERE WITHIN 3000 LBS OF MAX WT FOR RWY 8R, BUT HAD A MUCH BETTER MARGIN ON RWY 4. AS WE APCHED THE AREA S OF THE RWY 8R STOPWAY/TXWY OPPOSITE TXWY G, THE GND CTLR CLRED US TO RWY 4. HIS WORDS WERE 'TAXI TO RWY 4.' I SAW THE YELLOW/BLACK SIGNS DEPICTING TXWY E. I DID NOT SEE ANY RED/WHITE RWY SIGNS TO INDICATE WE MAY BE ENTERING A RWY. DUE TO CONSTRUCTION ON THE RAMP, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO EXECUTE A 180 DEG TURN BACK ON TXWY D, AND SINCE WE HAD AN UNRESTR TAXI CLRNC, I PLANNED TO USE TXWY E. AS WE PROCEEDED TOWARD TXWY E (AT THE SAME TIME COMPLETING THE AFTER START AND TAXI CHKLISTS), GND CTL ADVISED US TO HOLD OUR POS, STOP IMMEDIATELY, THAT WE WERE ABOUT TO ENTER THE RWY 8R STOPWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE CLRED US TO USE THE STOPWAY TO TAXI TO TXWY F AND TXWY D AND TXWY C TO RWY 4. OBVIOUSLY, WE OVERLOOKED THE TINY FOOTNOTE IN THE INSET ON THE PLATE THAT STATES 'DO NOT CROSS WITHOUT APPROVAL.' I THINK THIS IS A TRAP, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE SIGNS ON THE STOPWAY/TXWY ARE THE NORMAL YELLOW/BLACK. EVEN THE HOLD SHORT POINT FOR RWY 4 WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO IDENT. THESE MARKINGS AND LACK OF MARKINGS ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE INDUSTRY EFFORTS AT IMPROVING SAFETY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR CLAIMS THEY DID NOT NOTICE A HOLD LINE ACROSS THE PAVEMENT LEADING TO RWY 8R AND THE STOPWAY TXWY E. RPTR ALSO REITERATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THE HOLD SHORT POINT FOR RWY 4 AND INDICATED THAT THEY WERE CLOSER THAN EXPECTED TO RWY 4 WHILE MANEUVERING FOR TKOF.

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.