Narrative:

I was inbound to land at microphone and contacted microphone tower with initial position report. I was instructed by the tower controller to 'enter right base 32R'. Continuing inbound; I set up my approach; entered right base and was on 1.5 NM final for 32R and had not received clearance to land. I contacted tower and informed them of present position (1.5 NM final) and was given clearance to land. After landing; I requested taxi to self-serve pumps. Taxi instructions were provided by tower controller and I taxied to pumps to refuel. After refueling; I started up and contacted microphone ground controller with request to taxi to hangar. Conversation: 'aircraft X: crystal ground; aircraft X; @ north of sixty; request taxi to wiley north.' microphone ground: 'aircraft X; taxi to wiley north; good night.'having flown at microphone for 2.5 years now and having always received progressive taxi instructions; I was a little confused. However; with no other traffic on the field or in the pattern; I proceeded to taxi to wiley north via 'normal' routing that I have received in the past ensuring that I cleared final on each runway that I crossed prior to crossing. This caused me to cross 4 runways (6R; 6L; 14R; 14L) without explicit clearance. I assumed the taxi clearance I was given 'aircraft X; taxi to wiley north' gave me implied clearance to cross these runways and proceed own navigation. I also assumed that once I had crossed runways 6R/6L if there was a problem with the controller; I would have been contacted via radio as I was still on ground frequency.past taxi instructions from my position on the airport (north of sixty) to the hangars would have been: 'aircraft X; taxi to wiley north via east; E4; C cross 6R/6L; hold short 14R.' generally after crossing 6L; controller would issue amended clearance to cross 14R/14L continue to wiley north. In a review of recent changes to the fars; I noted that section (i) of far; 91.129 has been changed. It appears under the old far; my actions were appropriate as the taxi clearance I received was permission to cross all active runways that intersected my taxi route. Far; sec. 91.129; 'operations in class D airspace....(i) takeoff; landing; taxi clearance. No person may; at any airport with an operating control tower; operate an aircraft on a runway or taxiway; or takeoff or land an aircraft; unless an appropriate clearance is received from ATC. A clearance to taxi to the takeoff runway assigned to the aircraft is not a clearance to cross that assigned takeoff runway; or to taxi on that runway at any point; but is a clearance to cross other runways that intersect the taxi route to that assigned takeoff runway.' a clearance to taxi to any point other than an assigned takeoff runway is clearance to cross all runways that intersect the taxi route to that point. Amendment 91; effective 5/14/2012....(i) 'takeoff; landing; taxi clearance. No person may; at any airport with an operating control tower; operate an aircraft on a runway or taxiway; or takeoff or land an aircraft; unless an appropriate clearance is received from ATC.' lesson learned from this incident is to clarify any and all clearances received from ATC if in doubt.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Pilot describes clearance issued by MIC Tower Controller as something he has never received before. Pilot questioned himself if it was alright to taxi as instructed across four runways.

Narrative: I was inbound to land at MIC and contacted MIC Tower with initial position report. I was instructed by the Tower Controller to 'Enter Right Base 32R'. Continuing inbound; I set up my approach; entered right base and was on 1.5 NM final for 32R and had not received clearance to land. I contacted Tower and informed them of present position (1.5 NM final) and was given clearance to land. After landing; I requested taxi to self-serve pumps. Taxi instructions were provided by Tower Controller and I taxied to pumps to refuel. After refueling; I started up and contacted MIC Ground Controller with request to taxi to hangar. Conversation: 'Aircraft X: Crystal Ground; Aircraft X; @ North of Sixty; request taxi to Wiley North.' MIC Ground: 'Aircraft X; taxi to Wiley North; Good night.'Having flown at MIC for 2.5 years now and having always received progressive taxi instructions; I was a little confused. However; with no other traffic on the field or in the pattern; I proceeded to taxi to Wiley North via 'normal' routing that I have received in the past ensuring that I cleared final on each runway that I crossed prior to crossing. This caused me to cross 4 runways (6R; 6L; 14R; 14L) without explicit clearance. I assumed the taxi clearance I was given 'Aircraft X; taxi to Wiley North' gave me implied clearance to cross these runways and proceed own navigation. I also assumed that once I had crossed runways 6R/6L if there was a problem with the Controller; I would have been contacted via radio as I was still on Ground frequency.Past taxi instructions from my position on the airport (North of Sixty) to the hangars would have been: 'Aircraft X; taxi to Wiley North via E; E4; C cross 6R/6L; hold short 14R.' Generally after crossing 6L; Controller would issue amended clearance to cross 14R/14L continue to Wiley North. In a review of recent changes to the FARs; I noted that section (i) of FAR; 91.129 has been changed. It appears under the old FAR; my actions were appropriate as the taxi clearance I received was permission to cross all active runways that intersected my taxi route. FAR; Sec. 91.129; 'Operations in Class D Airspace....(i) Takeoff; landing; taxi clearance. No person may; at any airport with an operating Control Tower; operate an aircraft on a runway or taxiway; or takeoff or land an aircraft; unless an appropriate clearance is received from ATC. A clearance to taxi to the takeoff runway assigned to the aircraft is not a clearance to cross that assigned takeoff runway; or to taxi on that runway at any point; but is a clearance to cross other runways that intersect the taxi route to that assigned takeoff runway.' A clearance to taxi to any point other than an assigned takeoff runway is clearance to cross all runways that intersect the taxi route to that point. Amendment 91; effective 5/14/2012....(i) 'Takeoff; landing; taxi clearance. No person may; at any airport with an operating control tower; operate an aircraft on a runway or taxiway; or takeoff or land an aircraft; unless an appropriate clearance is received from ATC.' Lesson learned from this incident is to clarify any and all clearances received from ATC if in doubt.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.