Narrative:

Requested taxi instructions to runway 7L, given taxiway B to taxiway F cross runways 19L and 19R. A hold short line on taxiway F with a sign that read, 'hold here for runway 1L,' led us to believe another hold line existed for runway 7L. We crossed that hold line, approximately 1/2 aircraft distance and stopped unable to find separate hold line for runway 7L. Notified the tower we were across hold line. Were instructed make 180 degree back to hold line. We complied with instructions. Aircraft was never on the runway nor were there any traffic conflicts. A very confusing area, the sign painted on the taxiway, 'hold here for runway 1L,' makes you believe there is a separate hold line existing for runway 7L. Recommendations -- either eliminate the painted sign or change to read 'hold here for runways 1L and 7L.' callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: as aircraft was taxied to runway 7L, the flight crew saw the hold short line for runway 1L. They expected to see a hold short line for runway 7L, but failed to see anything that would mark a hold short line for runway 7L. Because they had seen a hold short marking for runway 1L, they expected a hold line for runway 7L. The tower told them they had crossed the hold short line for runway 7L, so they made a 180 degree turn to taxi back, then performed another 180 degree turn to hold short of runway 7L, 100 ft from the runway. Captain was very puzzled by taxiway markings. He could easily see where to hold short for runway 1L and expected a hold short for runway 7L, but could never find a hold short indicator for that runway.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 TAXIES FOR TKOF AT LAS AND CROSSES THE HOLD SHORT LINE FOR RWY 7L. FLC COMPLAINS THAT THERE ARE NO INDICATORS OR MARKERS OF A HOLD SHORT LINE.

Narrative: REQUESTED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO RWY 7L, GIVEN TXWY B TO TXWY F CROSS RWYS 19L AND 19R. A HOLD SHORT LINE ON TXWY F WITH A SIGN THAT READ, 'HOLD HERE FOR RWY 1L,' LED US TO BELIEVE ANOTHER HOLD LINE EXISTED FOR RWY 7L. WE CROSSED THAT HOLD LINE, APPROX 1/2 ACFT DISTANCE AND STOPPED UNABLE TO FIND SEPARATE HOLD LINE FOR RWY 7L. NOTIFIED THE TWR WE WERE ACROSS HOLD LINE. WERE INSTRUCTED MAKE 180 DEG BACK TO HOLD LINE. WE COMPLIED WITH INSTRUCTIONS. ACFT WAS NEVER ON THE RWY NOR WERE THERE ANY TFC CONFLICTS. A VERY CONFUSING AREA, THE SIGN PAINTED ON THE TXWY, 'HOLD HERE FOR RWY 1L,' MAKES YOU BELIEVE THERE IS A SEPARATE HOLD LINE EXISTING FOR RWY 7L. RECOMMENDATIONS -- EITHER ELIMINATE THE PAINTED SIGN OR CHANGE TO READ 'HOLD HERE FOR RWYS 1L AND 7L.' CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: AS ACFT WAS TAXIED TO RWY 7L, THE FLC SAW THE HOLD SHORT LINE FOR RWY 1L. THEY EXPECTED TO SEE A HOLD SHORT LINE FOR RWY 7L, BUT FAILED TO SEE ANYTHING THAT WOULD MARK A HOLD SHORT LINE FOR RWY 7L. BECAUSE THEY HAD SEEN A HOLD SHORT MARKING FOR RWY 1L, THEY EXPECTED A HOLD LINE FOR RWY 7L. THE TWR TOLD THEM THEY HAD CROSSED THE HOLD SHORT LINE FOR RWY 7L, SO THEY MADE A 180 DEG TURN TO TAXI BACK, THEN PERFORMED ANOTHER 180 DEG TURN TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 7L, 100 FT FROM THE RWY. CAPT WAS VERY PUZZLED BY TXWY MARKINGS. HE COULD EASILY SEE WHERE TO HOLD SHORT FOR RWY 1L AND EXPECTED A HOLD SHORT FOR RWY 7L, BUT COULD NEVER FIND A HOLD SHORT INDICATOR FOR THAT RWY.

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.