Falcon flight crew experiences confusion at sfo after receiving instructions to taxi via taxiways C;...

Narrative:

[At sfo; we] received taxi instruction from the ground controller; taxi to runway 01L; right turn on charlie; zulu hold short of bravo. I was confused how we would join taxiway zulu from charlie; so I read back the taxi clearance for verification; the controller than gave us additional clearance to hold short of C1 on charlie. While we held short of C1; we received additional clearance to continue taxi via Z; we did not realize that zulu taxiway begins in the intersection between C; C1. In addition there are no signs to provide situational awareness that we were leaving taxiway charlie and joining a new taxiway zulu; looking back the only indication we had was our heading indicators. As a result; we made a left turn on charlie 1 and crossed the departure end of runway 28R and joined sierra 3. Recommendations; when taxing northwest bound on charlie; to join zulu; the heading reference should remain 281 degrees until passing charlie 1; after this point; the headings should begin to gradually decrease slowly to about 270 degrees; followed by a heading to about 190 degrees until abeam the departure end of the runway. A sharp turn to about a heading of 170 degrees from charlie to charlie 1 will head the aircraft to cross runway 28R. Taxiway zulu becomes taxiway bravo at B1; when heading southeast on bravo; taxiway juliet and foxtrot can be easily confused; and both taxiways will take you across runway 01L; once again a heading reference must be made. This area needs additional signs and indications.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Falcon flight crew experiences confusion at SFO after receiving instructions to taxi via Taxiways C; Z; and B. A turn is initiated at C1 and a runway incursion results at the approach end of Runway 10L.

Narrative: [At SFO; we] received taxi instruction from the Ground Controller; Taxi to Runway 01L; right turn on Charlie; Zulu hold short of Bravo. I was confused how we would join taxiway Zulu from Charlie; so I read back the taxi clearance for verification; the Controller than gave us additional clearance to hold short of C1 on Charlie. While we held short of C1; we received additional clearance to continue taxi via Z; we did not realize that Zulu taxiway begins in the intersection between C; C1. In addition there are no signs to provide situational awareness that we were leaving Taxiway Charlie and joining a new Taxiway Zulu; looking back the only indication we had was our heading indicators. As a result; we made a left turn on Charlie 1 and crossed the departure end of Runway 28R and joined Sierra 3. Recommendations; when taxing Northwest bound on Charlie; to join Zulu; the heading reference should remain 281 degrees until passing Charlie 1; after this point; the headings should begin to gradually decrease slowly to about 270 degrees; followed by a heading to about 190 degrees until abeam the departure end of the runway. A sharp turn to about a heading of 170 degrees from Charlie to Charlie 1 will head the aircraft to cross Runway 28R. Taxiway Zulu becomes Taxiway Bravo at B1; when heading Southeast on Bravo; Taxiway Juliet and Foxtrot can be easily confused; and both taxiways will take you across Runway 01L; once again a heading reference must be made. This area needs additional signs and indications.

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	1046119
Time
Date	201210
Place
Locale Reference	SFO.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Falcon 900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 10800 Flight Crew Type 127
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 127 Flight Crew Total 11545 Flight Crew Type 127
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Ground Incursion Runway

Falcon flight crew experiences confusion at sfo after receiving instructions to taxi via taxiways C; Z; and B. A turn is initiated at C1 and a runway incursion results at the approach end of runway 10L.