Narrative:

Upon taxi out from ramp (located on northeast tip of terminal) we requested runway 23 for departure. Current WX had wind at 040 degree at 4 KTS, runway 5 in use, we were cleared to taxi to runway 23 for departure. We then asked ground for specific taxi instructions, and asked if we should taxi to runway 23 via taxiway north and taxiway G. Ground control then asked us if we required the full length of runway 23 for departure. We responded that we did require full length for departure. Then ground said ok then taxi to runway 23 as requested, implying to us to taxi via taxiway north and G. Upon approaching runway 23 to hold short we realized the note on the taxiway diagram that indicates taxiway north restr to aircraft weighing 50000 pounds or less. We were then cleared for takeoff, and resumed a normal flight. There was no subsequent corrective actions able to be made. Cause of problem: 1) did not see note on airport diagram warning about taxiway north's weight restriction. 2) ground control did not advise us as to which way to taxi to runway, or advise about taxiway north's weight limit. Prevent recurrence: 1) try to examine and read airport diagram more closely. 2) insist upon better taxi instructions from ground control (it was my first time at bhm). Contributing factors: 1) first time bhm, al. Was not familiar with normal taxi rtes. 2) was reading airport diagram in dimly lit cockpit using a map reading light. P.south. The way that taxiway north is indicated by an arrow could suggest that taxiway NM, east of taxiway G, is the only portion that has a weight restriction. That could be up to individual interpretation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HVY LGT USED A WT RESTRICTED TAXIWAY AT BHM.

Narrative: UPON TAXI OUT FROM RAMP (LOCATED ON NE TIP OF TERMINAL) WE REQUESTED RWY 23 FOR DEP. CURRENT WX HAD WIND AT 040 DEG AT 4 KTS, RWY 5 IN USE, WE WERE CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 23 FOR DEP. WE THEN ASKED GND FOR SPECIFIC TAXI INSTRUCTIONS, AND ASKED IF WE SHOULD TAXI TO RWY 23 VIA TAXIWAY N AND TAXIWAY G. GND CTL THEN ASKED US IF WE REQUIRED THE FULL LENGTH OF RWY 23 FOR DEP. WE RESPONDED THAT WE DID REQUIRE FULL LENGTH FOR DEP. THEN GND SAID OK THEN TAXI TO RWY 23 AS REQUESTED, IMPLYING TO US TO TAXI VIA TAXIWAY N AND G. UPON APCHING RWY 23 TO HOLD SHORT WE REALIZED THE NOTE ON THE TAXIWAY DIAGRAM THAT INDICATES TAXIWAY N RESTR TO ACFT WEIGHING 50000 POUNDS OR LESS. WE WERE THEN CLRED FOR TKOF, AND RESUMED A NORMAL FLT. THERE WAS NO SUBSEQUENT CORRECTIVE ACTIONS ABLE TO BE MADE. CAUSE OF PROBLEM: 1) DID NOT SEE NOTE ON ARPT DIAGRAM WARNING ABOUT TAXIWAY N'S WT RESTRICTION. 2) GND CTL DID NOT ADVISE US AS TO WHICH WAY TO TAXI TO RWY, OR ADVISE ABOUT TAXIWAY N'S WT LIMIT. PREVENT RECURRENCE: 1) TRY TO EXAMINE AND READ ARPT DIAGRAM MORE CLOSELY. 2) INSIST UPON BETTER TAXI INSTRUCTIONS FROM GND CTL (IT WAS MY FIRST TIME AT BHM). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) FIRST TIME BHM, AL. WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH NORMAL TAXI RTES. 2) WAS READING ARPT DIAGRAM IN DIMLY LIT COCKPIT USING A MAP READING LIGHT. P.S. THE WAY THAT TAXIWAY N IS INDICATED BY AN ARROW COULD SUGGEST THAT TAXIWAY NM, E OF TAXIWAY G, IS THE ONLY PORTION THAT HAS A WT RESTRICTION. THAT COULD BE UP TO INDIVIDUAL INTERP.

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.