Narrative:

While taxiing to runway 8R at mia; we noticed an area of confusion at the intersection of runway 8R and runway 12. The area contains three hold short lines -- very confusing -- probably a previous area of problems -- many times; especially given the enlarged inset of the area in question. As we taxied; I announced I was 'inside' for a few moments to accomplish some paperwork for takeoff and run a checklist. I made note of the area in question; but incorrectly assumed that the 'hold short' line in question was an 'ILS hold short line!' it was not. And I had my attention diverted. The tower alerted us to 'stop' as we began to taxi past the first; confusing line. We came to a stop about 10 feet past the line with the nosewheel. No problems occurred; no other aircraft involved; or any other problems. The area should not be marked as it is. If the first line is the hold short line; the other two (at the beginning of the two runways) should be eliminated. The one line would suffice for all operations; all the time. If the airport and the chart was more clear -- and noticeable -- the problem area would also be more of an attention getter; and a pre-taxi briefing possibility; too. Pre-taxi briefings and more attention while taxiing is of utmost importance and should be stressed in all areas of training and operations. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that he and the captain did in fact review the commercial chart's hot spot insert prior to taxi; but when they approached the actual taxiway site; they were confused by the signage. This pilot's suggestions were either make a single hold short line or paint 'all aircraft hold here' for east bound departures. He feels the possibility of missing this hold short is relatively great while preparing for takeoff with checklists to complete; possible weight and balance problems; a short taxi; and interaction with flight attendants.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT SUGGESTS REVISION OF RWY 8R AND RWY 12 HOLD SHORT AREA IN ORDER TO PREVENT POSSIBLE RUNWAY INCURSIONS.

Narrative: WHILE TAXIING TO RWY 8R AT MIA; WE NOTICED AN AREA OF CONFUSION AT THE INTXN OF RWY 8R AND RWY 12. THE AREA CONTAINS THREE HOLD SHORT LINES -- VERY CONFUSING -- PROBABLY A PREVIOUS AREA OF PROBS -- MANY TIMES; ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE ENLARGED INSET OF THE AREA IN QUESTION. AS WE TAXIED; I ANNOUNCED I WAS 'INSIDE' FOR A FEW MOMENTS TO ACCOMPLISH SOME PAPERWORK FOR TKOF AND RUN A CHKLIST. I MADE NOTE OF THE AREA IN QUESTION; BUT INCORRECTLY ASSUMED THAT THE 'HOLD SHORT' LINE IN QUESTION WAS AN 'ILS HOLD SHORT LINE!' IT WAS NOT. AND I HAD MY ATTENTION DIVERTED. THE TWR ALERTED US TO 'STOP' AS WE BEGAN TO TAXI PAST THE FIRST; CONFUSING LINE. WE CAME TO A STOP ABOUT 10 FEET PAST THE LINE WITH THE NOSEWHEEL. NO PROBS OCCURRED; NO OTHER ACFT INVOLVED; OR ANY OTHER PROBS. THE AREA SHOULD NOT BE MARKED AS IT IS. IF THE FIRST LINE IS THE HOLD SHORT LINE; THE OTHER TWO (AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TWO RWYS) SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. THE ONE LINE WOULD SUFFICE FOR ALL OPS; ALL THE TIME. IF THE ARPT AND THE CHART WAS MORE CLEAR -- AND NOTICEABLE -- THE PROB AREA WOULD ALSO BE MORE OF AN ATTENTION GETTER; AND A PRE-TAXI BRIEFING POSSIBILITY; TOO. PRE-TAXI BRIEFINGS AND MORE ATTENTION WHILE TAXIING IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND SHOULD BE STRESSED IN ALL AREAS OF TRAINING AND OPS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT HE AND THE CAPT DID IN FACT REVIEW THE COMMERCIAL CHART'S HOT SPOT INSERT PRIOR TO TAXI; BUT WHEN THEY APCHED THE ACTUAL TXWY SITE; THEY WERE CONFUSED BY THE SIGNAGE. THIS PLT'S SUGGESTIONS WERE EITHER MAKE A SINGLE HOLD SHORT LINE OR PAINT 'ALL ACFT HOLD HERE' FOR E BOUND DEPS. HE FEELS THE POSSIBILITY OF MISSING THIS HOLD SHORT IS RELATIVELY GREAT WHILE PREPARING FOR TKOF WITH CHKLISTS TO COMPLETE; POSSIBLE WT AND BAL PROBS; A SHORT TAXI; AND INTERACTION WITH FLT ATTENDANTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.