Narrative:

We were cleared to taxi across runway 23 on taxiway B, to turn right on taxiway J, to hold short of runway 23 for release time. After turning off taxiway B to taxiway J, we taxied over what we thought was the CAT III hold short line and continued around the corner to hold short of runway. The yellow paint was old cracked and faded, and the concrete was nearly white in color, without any black paint to help make the yellow paint stick out. That was the real hold short prior to the turn to the runway. ZZZZ tower didn't seem to be concerned and didn't want us to reposition. The lesson learned is that not all airports are marked the same way as the USA and vigilance is required.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THINKING THE POORLY MAINTAINED HOLD SHORT LINE APCHING RWY AT ZZZZ THEY WERE CROSSING WAS THE CAT III LINE THE CREW CONTINUED TO LATER DISCOVER THAT IT WAS THE HOLD SHORT LINE.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO TAXI ACROSS RWY 23 ON TXWY B, TO TURN RIGHT ON TXWY J, TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 23 FOR RELEASE TIME. AFTER TURNING OFF TXWY B TO TXWY J, WE TAXIED OVER WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE CAT III HOLD SHORT LINE AND CONTINUED AROUND THE CORNER TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY. THE YELLOW PAINT WAS OLD CRACKED AND FADED, AND THE CONCRETE WAS NEARLY WHITE IN COLOR, WITHOUT ANY BLACK PAINT TO HELP MAKE THE YELLOW PAINT STICK OUT. THAT WAS THE REAL HOLD SHORT PRIOR TO THE TURN TO THE RWY. ZZZZ TWR DIDN'T SEEM TO BE CONCERNED AND DIDN'T WANT US TO REPOSITION. THE LESSON LEARNED IS THAT NOT ALL ARPTS ARE MARKED THE SAME WAY AS THE USA AND VIGILANCE IS REQUIRED.

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.