Narrative:

I completed preflight. Started engines. Listened to ATIS. Runway 12R operational. I pulled the aircraft forward out of the hangar area and did a run-up. I called the vgt ground control and made a special request. I indicated that I had the current ATIS but had a special request. I indicated that I knew that active runway was 12R; but indicated that since the wind was calm; and there was almost no airport activity; and I was headed northbound and if workload and conditions permitted; could I please have runway 30L for the takeoff? I was cleared to go to runway 30L. Nothing was said about; 'hold short.' I read back the clearance then parenthetically added that; 'I am sure that he had meant to add 'hold short.'' the controller then proceeded to indicate that I could proceed to runway 30L. He then went on to indicate that it was no longer the policy of vgt ATC to indicate that the pilot should 'hold short;' as it was assumed that this was the case unless indicated otherwise. All of this is; of course; 'on the tape.' the controller having confirmed my clearance to; 'runway 30L;' I started proceeding to the entrance of the hold area and small run-up area; which was less than one hundred yards. Then; the controller starting justifying not using the 'hold short' instruction as new ATC policy. The hold area lines were not clearly seen as I was taxiing. (After the incident; and I had been directed to the run-up area I could see that there were some lines but they were badly worn; and somewhat oil-covered. I may not have seen them because of the low angle of the morning sun; in addition to their being badly worn.) in any event; I stopped about 40 to 50 yards short of the runway 30L. Somehow it developed that he was concerned with the position of the airplane. I asserted that I was not on the runway and 50 yards from the runway. Finally it developed that he had thought that I may have crossed the 'hold short' line.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The Pilot of a Cessna twin reported crossing the Runway 30L hold short line; in part because the lines were faded and hard to see.

Narrative: I completed preflight. Started engines. Listened to ATIS. Runway 12R operational. I pulled the aircraft forward out of the hangar area and did a run-up. I called the VGT Ground Control and made a special request. I indicated that I had the current ATIS but had a special request. I indicated that I knew that active runway was 12R; but indicated that since the wind was calm; and there was almost no airport activity; and I was headed northbound and if workload and conditions permitted; could I please have Runway 30L for the takeoff? I was cleared to go to Runway 30L. Nothing was said about; 'hold short.' I read back the clearance then parenthetically added that; 'I am sure that he had meant to add 'hold short.'' The Controller then proceeded to indicate that I could proceed to Runway 30L. He then went on to indicate that it was no longer the policy of VGT ATC to indicate that the pilot should 'hold short;' as it was assumed that this was the case unless indicated otherwise. All of this is; of course; 'on the tape.' The Controller having confirmed my clearance to; 'Runway 30L;' I started proceeding to the entrance of the hold area and small run-up area; which was less than one hundred yards. Then; the Controller starting justifying not using the 'hold short' instruction as new ATC policy. The hold area lines were not clearly seen as I was taxiing. (After the incident; and I had been directed to the run-up area I could see that there were some lines but they were badly worn; and somewhat oil-covered. I may not have seen them because of the low angle of the morning sun; in addition to their being badly worn.) In any event; I stopped about 40 to 50 yards short of the Runway 30L. Somehow it developed that he was concerned with the position of the airplane. I asserted that I was NOT on the runway and 50 yards from the runway. Finally it developed that he had thought that I may have crossed the 'hold short' line.

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.