Bwi ATCT local controller used confusing phraseology when he instructed a B757 crew at the hold short line to move for a flight in back that was ready for takeoff.

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Attributes
ACN	626172
Time
Date	200408
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : bwi.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 260
ASRS Report	626172
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 19100 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	626299
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Holding on taxiway U at hold short line for runway 28 at bwi prior to takeoff. Tower asked if we were ready to go. I answered that we needed one more min for (5 min) engine warm-up (B757). Tower said that we needed to move right away for a flight waiting behind us for takeoff. Tower told us to taxi straight ahead. Since we were at the hold short line, 'straight ahead' was taken to mean across the runway to taxiway V and back to the head of runway 28. The captain asked me to have tower repeat their instructions. Tower told us to taxi across. We then proceeded across the runway as tower cleared air carrier #1 (behind us) to take off on runway 28. Air carrier #1 said 'air carrier #2 is taking the runway.' tower asked us what we were doing. I answered that we were taxiing across as they instructed. Tower replied that 'that will work, too.' there was no further discussion from either tower or us. In this instance, I think there would have been no misunderstanding if the clearance had been more specific.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BWI ATCT LCL CTLR USED CONFUSING PHRASEOLOGY WHEN HE INSTRUCTED A B757 CREW AT THE HOLD SHORT LINE TO MOVE FOR A FLT IN BACK THAT WAS READY FOR TKOF.

Narrative: HOLDING ON TXWY U AT HOLD SHORT LINE FOR RWY 28 AT BWI PRIOR TO TKOF. TWR ASKED IF WE WERE READY TO GO. I ANSWERED THAT WE NEEDED ONE MORE MIN FOR (5 MIN) ENG WARM-UP (B757). TWR SAID THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE RIGHT AWAY FOR A FLT WAITING BEHIND US FOR TKOF. TWR TOLD US TO TAXI STRAIGHT AHEAD. SINCE WE WERE AT THE HOLD SHORT LINE, 'STRAIGHT AHEAD' WAS TAKEN TO MEAN ACROSS THE RWY TO TXWY V AND BACK TO THE HEAD OF RWY 28. THE CAPT ASKED ME TO HAVE TWR REPEAT THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. TWR TOLD US TO TAXI ACROSS. WE THEN PROCEEDED ACROSS THE RWY AS TWR CLRED ACR #1 (BEHIND US) TO TAKE OFF ON RWY 28. ACR #1 SAID 'ACR #2 IS TAKING THE RWY.' TWR ASKED US WHAT WE WERE DOING. I ANSWERED THAT WE WERE TAXIING ACROSS AS THEY INSTRUCTED. TWR REPLIED THAT 'THAT WILL WORK, TOO.' THERE WAS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM EITHER TWR OR US. IN THIS INSTANCE, I THINK THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO MISUNDERSTANDING IF THE CLRNC HAD BEEN MORE SPECIFIC.

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.