DC9 pilot reports ambiguous signage at bed airport.

Attributes
ACN	718658
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bed.airport
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	718658
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport
Primary Problem	Airport
Situations
Airport	signage : bed.airport

Narrative:

While taxiing southwest on taxiway south at bed; we encountered a sign that had a left arrow and a west; the text 'ramp;' and in yellow on black; 'south.' based on my understanding of the aim; I concluded that it meant that taxiway west was to the left. Evidently; however; it meant that the west ramp was to the left. There may have been a DOT between the 'west' and 'ramp.' this sign was; at best; misleading. There has to be a better way of communicating the information that taxiing pilots need to know.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 PLT RPTS AMBIGUOUS SIGNAGE AT BED ARPT.

Narrative: WHILE TAXIING SOUTHWEST ON TAXIWAY S AT BED; WE ENCOUNTERED A SIGN THAT HAD A LEFT ARROW AND A W; THE TEXT 'RAMP;' AND IN YELLOW ON BLACK; 'S.' BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE AIM; I CONCLUDED THAT IT MEANT THAT TAXIWAY W WAS TO THE LEFT. EVIDENTLY; HOWEVER; IT MEANT THAT THE WEST RAMP WAS TO THE LEFT. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A DOT BETWEEN THE 'W' AND 'RAMP.' THIS SIGN WAS; AT BEST; MISLEADING. THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY OF COMMUNICATING THE INFORMATION THAT TAXIING PILOTS NEED TO KNOW.

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.