Narrative:

Cleared to taxi to runway 16. We did so and upon reaching were told we shouldn't have crossed runway to get there. It was our understanding that a clearance to 'taxi to' also cleared you to cross any runways necessary to get there. I know most pilots interpret it this way. If this isn't right, it needs to be publicized. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states this is an unusual taxi situation since you must cross runway you are assigned ot get to that runway's takeoff area. Reporter has discussed situation with an ATC friend who says best to hold and get clearance to cross. Other aircraft were using runway 24 and that too made him think 16 was not active. Says he certainly learned from this.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER ACFT CLEARED TO TKOF RWY 16. CROSSES THAT RWY ENROUTE TO TKOF AREA OF 16.

Narrative: CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 16. WE DID SO AND UPON REACHING WERE TOLD WE SHOULDN'T HAVE CROSSED RWY TO GET THERE. IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT A CLRNC TO 'TAXI TO' ALSO CLRED YOU TO CROSS ANY RWYS NECESSARY TO GET THERE. I KNOW MOST PLTS INTERPRET IT THIS WAY. IF THIS ISN'T RIGHT, IT NEEDS TO BE PUBLICIZED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES THIS IS AN UNUSUAL TAXI SITUATION SINCE YOU MUST CROSS RWY YOU ARE ASSIGNED OT GET TO THAT RWY'S TKOF AREA. RPTR HAS DISCUSSED SITUATION WITH AN ATC FRIEND WHO SAYS BEST TO HOLD AND GET CLRNC TO CROSS. OTHER ACFT WERE USING RWY 24 AND THAT TOO MADE HIM THINK 16 WAS NOT ACTIVE. SAYS HE CERTAINLY LEARNED FROM THIS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.