Narrative:

We pushed back from gate on time and contacted ground control for taxi to runway 21. We were cleared to taxi via taxiways bravo; charlie; alpha; hold short of runway 15. We complied with the directions and came to a stop short of the hold short line at runway 15. As we were waiting; we could see that there was a helicopter on taxiway a on the north side of runway 15. After another aircraft departed on runway 15; ground control cleared us to cross runway 15; taxi to runway 21 via alpha. We turned on our exterior lights and began crossing runway 15. About halfway across the runway; we were able to see that the helicopter was on alpha facing south; leaving us nowhere to go. We stopped the aircraft on the runway; informed ground control that we could not proceed further; and asked for instructions. We were told to 'hold position; the helicopter should be departing any second.' however; rather than departing from the taxiway; the helicopter taxied further south to the hold short line southbound on taxiway alpha. Again; we asked ground what was going on; and were told to hold position on runway 15. The helicopter then taxied onto runway 15 in front of us; stopping about 50 ft away at our 10 o'clock position facing south into the wind. The helicopter was on tower frequency while we were on ground; so we had no idea what they were doing; and the ground controller seemed confused as well. We could not maneuver away; as the helicopter was so close to us that our aircraft exhaust could have caused him damage. After 30 seconds on the runway together; the helicopter suddenly lifted off; just off our left wing; and departed southbound. The entire encounter was marked by confusion on the part of the ground controller; who seemed to be unaware of what the helicopter planned to do. The fact that we were on different frequencies on the same piece of pavement at the same time made the entire event very uncomfortable and unsafe. After the helicopter departed; we were cleared to continue taxi via alpha to runway 21; and subsequently departed without further incident.better coordination between ground control and tower control is essential. Each aircraft was on a different frequency and no one seemed to know what the plan was. The helicopter should have departed from the runway; or from the taxiway while we were being held short of 15. The diverse operations at chs are often challenging; but clear communication of intentions is a must!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew reported being cleared to cross CHS Runway 15; but had to stop on the runway after being blocked by a helicopter on the other side. The helicopter taxied onto the runway and took off over the B737.

Narrative: We pushed back from gate on time and contacted Ground Control for taxi to Runway 21. We were cleared to taxi via Taxiways Bravo; Charlie; Alpha; hold short of Runway 15. We complied with the directions and came to a stop short of the hold short line at Runway 15. As we were waiting; we could see that there was a helicopter on Taxiway A on the north side of Runway 15. After another aircraft departed on Runway 15; Ground Control cleared us to cross Runway 15; taxi to Runway 21 via Alpha. We turned on our exterior lights and began crossing Runway 15. About halfway across the runway; we were able to see that the helicopter was on Alpha facing south; leaving us nowhere to go. We stopped the aircraft on the runway; informed Ground Control that we could not proceed further; and asked for instructions. We were told to 'hold position; the helicopter should be departing any second.' However; rather than departing from the Taxiway; the helicopter taxied further south to the hold short line southbound on Taxiway Alpha. Again; we asked Ground what was going on; and were told to hold position on Runway 15. The helicopter then taxied onto Runway 15 in front of us; stopping about 50 ft away at our 10 o'clock position facing south into the wind. The helicopter was on Tower frequency while we were on Ground; so we had no idea what they were doing; and the Ground Controller seemed confused as well. We could not maneuver away; as the helicopter was so close to us that our aircraft exhaust could have caused him damage. After 30 seconds on the runway together; the helicopter suddenly lifted off; just off our left wing; and departed southbound. The entire encounter was marked by confusion on the part of the Ground Controller; who seemed to be unaware of what the helicopter planned to do. The fact that we were on different frequencies on the same piece of pavement at the same time made the entire event very uncomfortable and unsafe. After the helicopter departed; we were cleared to continue taxi via Alpha to Runway 21; and subsequently departed without further incident.Better coordination between Ground Control and Tower Control is essential. Each aircraft was on a different frequency and no one seemed to know what the plan was. The helicopter should have departed from the runway; or from the taxiway while we were being held short of 15. The diverse operations at CHS are often challenging; but clear communication of intentions is a must!

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.