Narrative:

This morning we flew in and out within 30 mins or S0. After touchdown we cleared runway and switched to ground. Ground only responded with 'roger' and nothing else. No specific instructions or which taxiways to use, etc. On departure, tower provided our clearance, sort of like we were bothering them providing it for us. We soon called for taxi and requested runway 3. Tower responded by 'taxi to runway 3 or 35.' we taxied to runway 3. Still no specific taxi route was assigned. On taxi out we (the crew) discussed how vague the controller was being. We talked about our approach plates which said 'tower CTAF 112.35.' we decided this was a part time tower and the controller did not really have to 'control' us. We called tower ready for takeoff and again the response 'roger.' not 'hold short,' 'cleared for takeoff' or anything to give us any clue as to what he was doing. We treated it as a CTAF and announced our intentions of taking runway. We barely crossed the hold short line and were immediately told we were entering an active runway. Tower assured us no problem existed but to be careful in future. We explained the lack of control, the CTAF, and no traffic gave us this impression. Factors: ATC being vague, us being unfamiliar, approach plates listing a CTAF which apparently it's not. I've been back since and know how things work now in vcv.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF A CHARTERED B737 BELIEVING THAT THE TWR WAS NOT IN OPERATION CROSSED RWY HOLD SHORT LINE AT VCV TO TAXI ON THE RWY FOR TKOF WHEN THE TWR CTLR ADVISED THAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN CLEARED FOR TKOF. AFTER APOLOGIZING, THEY WERE CLRD FOR TKOF.

Narrative: THIS MORNING WE FLEW IN AND OUT WITHIN 30 MINS OR S0. AFTER TOUCHDOWN WE CLEARED RWY AND SWITCHED TO GND. GND ONLY RESPONDED WITH 'ROGER' AND NOTHING ELSE. NO SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS OR WHICH TAXIWAYS TO USE, ETC. ON DEPARTURE, TWR PROVIDED OUR CLRNC, SORT OF LIKE WE WERE BOTHERING THEM PROVIDING IT FOR US. WE SOON CALLED FOR TAXI AND REQUESTED RWY 3. TWR RESPONDED BY 'TAXI TO RWY 3 OR 35.' WE TAXIED TO RWY 3. STILL NO SPECIFIC TAXI ROUTE WAS ASSIGNED. ON TAXI OUT WE (THE CREW) DISCUSSED HOW VAGUE THE CTLR WAS BEING. WE TALKED ABOUT OUR APCH PLATES WHICH SAID 'TWR CTAF 112.35.' WE DECIDED THIS WAS A PART TIME TWR AND THE CTLR DID NOT REALLY HAVE TO 'CTL' US. WE CALLED TWR READY FOR TKOF AND AGAIN THE RESPONSE 'ROGER.' NOT 'HOLD SHORT,' 'CLEARED FOR TKOF' OR ANYTHING TO GIVE US ANY CLUE AS TO WHAT HE WAS DOING. WE TREATED IT AS A CTAF AND ANNOUNCED OUR INTENTIONS OF TAKING RWY. WE BARELY CROSSED THE HOLD SHORT LINE AND WERE IMMEDIATELY TOLD WE WERE ENTERING AN ACTIVE RWY. TWR ASSURED US NO PROBLEM EXISTED BUT TO BE CAREFUL IN FUTURE. WE EXPLAINED THE LACK OF CTL, THE CTAF, AND NO TRAFFIC GAVE US THIS IMPRESSION. FACTORS: ATC BEING VAGUE, US BEING UNFAMILIAR, APCH PLATES LISTING A CTAF WHICH APPARENTLY IT'S NOT. I'VE BEEN BACK SINCE AND KNOW HOW THINGS WORK NOW IN VCV.

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.