A flight crew departed their elp gate and cleared to taxi to runway 8R when they expected a long tax...

Narrative:

The captain said here is the approach end of 8R; but not the runway. I didn't say anything at that time because I was trying to figure out our position on the company page so I could give him an accurate answer. I looked up and we were just passing the 8R approach sign and hold short line when ground said hold your position and contact tower. Tower cleared us to takeoff from that position we taxied up to the threshold for runway 8R and departed. First [threat] was change of runway which cut our taxi from 6 minutes to 2 minutes. Taxi also changed from no hold short crossing runway or approach; to multiple possible ones. [We needed more] communication with ground to understand the new instructions. Our workload [was high] with engine start; checklist completion; and taxiing. Communication is number one between crew and ATC. Taxing without knowing where we need to hold short. I learned that I need to request to hold our position with the captain and ATC if needed when I'm not incomplete understanding of the taxi instructions. Clarify with ATC anytime there we are not sure of a hold short even if it is an approach end. Also on very short taxi to hold at push back get the engine started and do the taxi checklist before we start moving. That will allow me to be more of a help on taxi.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A flight crew departed their ELP gate and cleared to taxi to Runway 8R when they expected a long taxi to Runway 26 and almost immediately entered 8R at K; surprised at how close the runway was to the terminal.

Narrative: The Captain said here is the approach end of 8R; but not the runway. I didn't say anything at that time because I was trying to figure out our position on the Company page so I could give him an accurate answer. I looked up and we were just passing the 8R approach sign and hold short line when Ground said hold your position and contact Tower. Tower cleared us to takeoff from that position we taxied up to the threshold for Runway 8R and departed. First [threat] was change of runway which cut our taxi from 6 minutes to 2 minutes. Taxi also changed from no hold short crossing runway or approach; to multiple possible ones. [We needed more] communication with Ground to understand the new instructions. Our workload [was high] with engine start; checklist completion; and taxiing. Communication is number one between crew and ATC. Taxing without knowing where we need to hold short. I learned that I need to request to hold our position with the Captain and ATC if needed when I'm not incomplete understanding of the taxi instructions. Clarify with ATC anytime there we are not sure of a hold short even if it is an approach end. Also on very short taxi to hold at push back get the engine started and do the taxi checklist before we start moving. That will allow me to be more of a help on taxi.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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	1028853
Time
Date	201208
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ELP.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Ground Incursion Runway

A flight crew departed their elp gate and cleared to taxi to runway 8R when they expected a long taxi to runway 26 and almost immediately entered 8R at K; surprised at how close the runway was to the terminal.