Narrative:

Burbank was departing runway 33 due to strong winds from the north. We were well aware that we could not use taxiway G to get to runway 33 due to a wingspan restr. Taxiing out, we were holding short of runway 33 at the point southeast of the runway 8-26/33-15 intersection awaiting landing traffic on runway 33. Bur tower then cleared us into position and hold on runway 33 and told us to expect a 5 min delay for flow into las. We proceeded into position at the runway threshold. About 20 seconds alter, I started to think something was not right, and I remembered that the runway had a displaced threshold. We told the tower that we would make a 180 degree turn and taxi down to full length. I made a turn to the east, and realized why I initially went into position at the displaced threshold. The REIL for runway 33 extends vertically a few inches and blocks access to the full length of runway 33 utilizing the ramp area. The bur 10-9 page shows the ramp extending all the way to the end of runway 33, but the lighting prevents any access to this area. Furthermore, I think the lights subconsciously gave me the impression that I was at the full length of the runway. Had we been cleared for takeoff, I believe I would have proceeded from the displaced threshold without giving it a second thought. The burbank 10-9 page, and the opc both indicate that runway 33 has 6886 ft available for takeoff. However, from the displaced threshold, there is only 6536 ft available (350 ft shorter). The reduced length would not have been a problem for us, but I believe it could be a safety risk for future operations. If you are departing on runway 33 at bur and cannot use taxiway 'G', the only way to get to the full length is to enter the runway before the displaced threshold, back taxi on the runway and make a 180 degree turn into position.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW NOTES IRREGULAR ENTRY TO DISPLACED THRESHOLD AREA REQUIRED FOR SOME ACFT AT BUR.

Narrative: BURBANK WAS DEPARTING RWY 33 DUE TO STRONG WINDS FROM THE N. WE WERE WELL AWARE THAT WE COULD NOT USE TXWY G TO GET TO RWY 33 DUE TO A WINGSPAN RESTR. TAXIING OUT, WE WERE HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 33 AT THE POINT SE OF THE RWY 8-26/33-15 INTXN AWAITING LNDG TFC ON RWY 33. BUR TWR THEN CLRED US INTO POS AND HOLD ON RWY 33 AND TOLD US TO EXPECT A 5 MIN DELAY FOR FLOW INTO LAS. WE PROCEEDED INTO POS AT THE RWY THRESHOLD. ABOUT 20 SECONDS ALTER, I STARTED TO THINK SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT, AND I REMEMBERED THAT THE RWY HAD A DISPLACED THRESHOLD. WE TOLD THE TWR THAT WE WOULD MAKE A 180 DEG TURN AND TAXI DOWN TO FULL LENGTH. I MADE A TURN TO THE E, AND REALIZED WHY I INITIALLY WENT INTO POS AT THE DISPLACED THRESHOLD. THE REIL FOR RWY 33 EXTENDS VERTLY A FEW INCHES AND BLOCKS ACCESS TO THE FULL LENGTH OF RWY 33 UTILIZING THE RAMP AREA. THE BUR 10-9 PAGE SHOWS THE RAMP EXTENDING ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF RWY 33, BUT THE LIGHTING PREVENTS ANY ACCESS TO THIS AREA. FURTHERMORE, I THINK THE LIGHTS SUBCONSCIOUSLY GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS AT THE FULL LENGTH OF THE RWY. HAD WE BEEN CLRED FOR TKOF, I BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE PROCEEDED FROM THE DISPLACED THRESHOLD WITHOUT GIVING IT A SECOND THOUGHT. THE BURBANK 10-9 PAGE, AND THE OPC BOTH INDICATE THAT RWY 33 HAS 6886 FT AVAILABLE FOR TKOF. HOWEVER, FROM THE DISPLACED THRESHOLD, THERE IS ONLY 6536 FT AVAILABLE (350 FT SHORTER). THE REDUCED LENGTH WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PROB FOR US, BUT I BELIEVE IT COULD BE A SAFETY RISK FOR FUTURE OPS. IF YOU ARE DEPARTING ON RWY 33 AT BUR AND CANNOT USE TXWY 'G', THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO THE FULL LENGTH IS TO ENTER THE RWY BEFORE THE DISPLACED THRESHOLD, BACK TAXI ON THE RWY AND MAKE A 180 DEG TURN INTO POS.

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.