A crj crew described the difficulty determining if the 28C approach sign on taxiway east was only fo...

Narrative:

Descriptionnormal start and taxi out of the gate in pit. Was assigned by ground to taxi to 28C via taxiways C; north and east to 28C. Normal taxi out; before take-off check was completed just after turning onto east from north. Captain continued to taxi at a slow pace towards 28C and approached a hold short line for 28C labeled as 28 approach. I informed the captain we should hold short of 28C at that point and the captain brought the aircraft to a stop; possibly just over the hold short line labeled 28C approach. Both the captain and I were confused by the labeling of the airport signage that indicated that was the ILS hold short for the 28C approach; but did not see another hold short line for the runway on taxiway east. Several seconds after we stopped; tower issued us a takeoff clearance making no mention of having crossed the hold short line. We proceed down the rest of east onto 28C and completed a normal takeoff. The captain and I were confused by the airport signage indicating that there was an ILS critical area but no other hold short lines. Since the weather was VFR the captain and I assumed that there was another hold short line for the runway. After not seeing another one; I immediately told the captain to stop the aircraft. Contributing to this confusion was the lack of labeling on the airport diagram; not indicating an ILS critical area for 28C.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ crew described the difficulty determining if the 28C APCH sign on Taxiway E was only for instrument approach protection or if it was meant as the hold short line for Runway 28C.

Narrative: DescriptionNormal start and taxi out of the gate in PIT. Was assigned by ground to taxi to 28C via Taxiways C; N and E to 28C. Normal taxi out; Before Take-Off Check was completed just after turning onto E from N. Captain continued to taxi at a slow pace towards 28C and approached a hold short line for 28C labeled as 28 APCH. I informed the captain we should hold short of 28C at that point and the Captain brought the aircraft to a stop; possibly just over the hold short line labeled 28C APCH. Both the Captain and I were confused by the labeling of the airport signage that indicated that was the ILS Hold Short for the 28C approach; but did not see another hold short line for the runway on Taxiway E. Several seconds after we stopped; tower issued us a takeoff clearance making no mention of having crossed the hold short line. We proceed down the rest of E onto 28C and completed a normal takeoff. The Captain and I were confused by the airport signage indicating that there was an ILS critical area but no other hold short lines. Since the weather was VFR the Captain and I assumed that there was another hold short line for the runway. After not seeing another one; I immediately told the captain to stop the aircraft. Contributing to this confusion was the lack of labeling on the airport diagram; not indicating an ILS critical area for 28C.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	843796
Time
Date	200907
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	PIT.Airport
State Reference	PA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 23 Flight Crew Total 1600 Flight Crew Type 800
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Ground Incursion Runway

A crj crew described the difficulty determining if the 28C approach sign on taxiway east was only for instrument approach protection or if it was meant as the hold short line for runway 28C.