Narrative:

Las-lax, taxi on taxiway C, plan for takeoff runway 25R, then we had a change to runway 19L. We were instructed to turn right on taxiway C, then taxiway G and taxiway D to runway 19L. As I looked and started turning right, in the center of an island, you see a 'C' sign. This led me to believe that we were on taxiway C. A fire truck to my left was on the south side of taxiway inside taxiway B and runway 25R. It looked as if we were turning on taxiway A5. We were no factor to the fire truck, but I asked my first officer who looked and said, 'yes, we're on taxiway C.' at this point I said 'we're on taxiway B.' he again said 'there's the 'C' sign.' anyway, nothing was said by ground and taxiway C is only 200 ft long at this point, nearing its end. The area where this confusion occurred, the only visible sign is 'C.' it is difficult to distinguish between taxiway C and the ramp in this particular area. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter states that at the time of the incident he was a fairly new captain and was working with a new first officer. In retrospect, he states that he does not expect a further problem as he becomes more familiar with the local situation and style of controling at las. He agrees that it would be a good procedure when flying with a new crew member to stop the aircraft and set the brakes in order to resolve any taxi signage or instructions rather than continue the taxi. The reporter maintains that this signage difficulty is difficult for pilots unfamiliar with las and looking at small airport diagrams to confirm their taxi instructions -- especially when the active runway is changed in mid stream. Las ground control did not correct or admonish this crew in this situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSING TAXI SIGNAGE AT LAS.

Narrative: LAS-LAX, TAXI ON TXWY C, PLAN FOR TKOF RWY 25R, THEN WE HAD A CHANGE TO RWY 19L. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO TURN R ON TXWY C, THEN TXWY G AND TXWY D TO RWY 19L. AS I LOOKED AND STARTED TURNING R, IN THE CTR OF AN ISLAND, YOU SEE A 'C' SIGN. THIS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT WE WERE ON TXWY C. A FIRE TRUCK TO MY L WAS ON THE S SIDE OF TXWY INSIDE TXWY B AND RWY 25R. IT LOOKED AS IF WE WERE TURNING ON TXWY A5. WE WERE NO FACTOR TO THE FIRE TRUCK, BUT I ASKED MY FO WHO LOOKED AND SAID, 'YES, WE'RE ON TXWY C.' AT THIS POINT I SAID 'WE'RE ON TXWY B.' HE AGAIN SAID 'THERE'S THE 'C' SIGN.' ANYWAY, NOTHING WAS SAID BY GND AND TXWY C IS ONLY 200 FT LONG AT THIS POINT, NEARING ITS END. THE AREA WHERE THIS CONFUSION OCCURRED, THE ONLY VISIBLE SIGN IS 'C.' IT IS DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH BTWN TXWY C AND THE RAMP IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATES THAT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT HE WAS A FAIRLY NEW CAPT AND WAS WORKING WITH A NEW FO. IN RETROSPECT, HE STATES THAT HE DOES NOT EXPECT A FURTHER PROB AS HE BECOMES MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE LCL SIT AND STYLE OF CTLING AT LAS. HE AGREES THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD PROC WHEN FLYING WITH A NEW CREW MEMBER TO STOP THE ACFT AND SET THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO RESOLVE ANY TAXI SIGNAGE OR INSTRUCTIONS RATHER THAN CONTINUE THE TAXI. THE RPTR MAINTAINS THAT THIS SIGNAGE DIFFICULTY IS DIFFICULT FOR PLTS UNFAMILIAR WITH LAS AND LOOKING AT SMALL ARPT DIAGRAMS TO CONFIRM THEIR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS -- ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ACTIVE RWY IS CHANGED IN MID STREAM. LAS GND CTL DID NOT CORRECT OR ADMONISH THIS CREW IN THIS SIT.

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.