Narrative:

I had called sondrestrom tower for a taxi clearance and was given the following instruction: 'taxi into holding position; runway 28.' after reading back this clearance; I proceeded to taxi into position and hold from the north apron. The controller called after I had entered the runway to inquire as to what I was doing. I replied that I had understood '...to taxi into holding position on runway 28.' he informed me that he had not cleared me onto the runway; rather into the 'holding position.' it then occurred to me that what he wanted me to do was to taxi onto taxiway a and hold short of the runway. Adding to my confusion about the clearance is a lack of markings defining a 'holding position' either on the field or in the graphic depiction of the airport on the commercial chart which I was using (and which I believe to be current). Whereas in the united states ground and tower controllers are specific (and generally require a clear readback) about runway hold short instructions; this was not the case here. The phraseology used in this situation was similar to (but not the same as) the standard united states instruction to '...taxi into position and hold;' indicating that the airplane has been cleared onto the runway; but not for takeoff. I am aware of ongoing efforts to standardize phraseology among all ICAO nations; and given the frequency (and also the risks) presented by runway incursion incidents; it would be helpful if all could agree on a standard which is unambiguous about when an aircraft has in fact been cleared onto a runway. The implication that taxiway a is a 'holding position' lacks some clarity. The larger lesson is; of course; that when operating in a foreign environment; especially where english it not the primary language; one should always seek clarification. The controllers at sondrestrom (kangerlussuaq) are highly trained; very professional and they have an excellent command of the english language. The phraseology they use is always standard; even if this standard differs from the standards of one's home country. It is incumbent on pilots/crews such as myself to make sure that every clearance is fully understood and complied with.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CE525 PLT INTERP OF CLRNC TO 'TAXI INTO HOLDING POS' AS CLRNC TO TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD RESULTS IN A RWY INCURSION AT BGSF.

Narrative: I HAD CALLED SONDRESTROM TWR FOR A TAXI CLRNC AND WAS GIVEN THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTION: 'TAXI INTO HOLDING POS; RWY 28.' AFTER READING BACK THIS CLRNC; I PROCEEDED TO TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD FROM THE N APRON. THE CTLR CALLED AFTER I HAD ENTERED THE RWY TO INQUIRE AS TO WHAT I WAS DOING. I REPLIED THAT I HAD UNDERSTOOD '...TO TAXI INTO HOLDING POS ON RWY 28.' HE INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD NOT CLRED ME ONTO THE RWY; RATHER INTO THE 'HOLDING POS.' IT THEN OCCURRED TO ME THAT WHAT HE WANTED ME TO DO WAS TO TAXI ONTO TXWY A AND HOLD SHORT OF THE RWY. ADDING TO MY CONFUSION ABOUT THE CLRNC IS A LACK OF MARKINGS DEFINING A 'HOLDING POS' EITHER ON THE FIELD OR IN THE GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF THE ARPT ON THE COMMERCIAL CHART WHICH I WAS USING (AND WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE CURRENT). WHEREAS IN THE UNITED STATES GND AND TWR CTLRS ARE SPECIFIC (AND GENERALLY REQUIRE A CLR READBACK) ABOUT RWY HOLD SHORT INSTRUCTIONS; THIS WAS NOT THE CASE HERE. THE PHRASEOLOGY USED IN THIS SITUATION WAS SIMILAR TO (BUT NOT THE SAME AS) THE STANDARD UNITED STATES INSTRUCTION TO '...TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD;' INDICATING THAT THE AIRPLANE HAS BEEN CLRED ONTO THE RWY; BUT NOT FOR TKOF. I AM AWARE OF ONGOING EFFORTS TO STANDARDIZE PHRASEOLOGY AMONG ALL ICAO NATIONS; AND GIVEN THE FREQUENCY (AND ALSO THE RISKS) PRESENTED BY RWY INCURSION INCIDENTS; IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF ALL COULD AGREE ON A STANDARD WHICH IS UNAMBIGUOUS ABOUT WHEN AN ACFT HAS IN FACT BEEN CLRED ONTO A RWY. THE IMPLICATION THAT TXWY A IS A 'HOLDING POS' LACKS SOME CLARITY. THE LARGER LESSON IS; OF COURSE; THAT WHEN OPERATING IN A FOREIGN ENVIRONMENT; ESPECIALLY WHERE ENGLISH IT NOT THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE; ONE SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK CLARIFICATION. THE CTLRS AT SONDRESTROM (KANGERLUSSUAQ) ARE HIGHLY TRAINED; VERY PROFESSIONAL AND THEY HAVE AN EXCELLENT COMMAND OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. THE PHRASEOLOGY THEY USE IS ALWAYS STANDARD; EVEN IF THIS STANDARD DIFFERS FROM THE STANDARDS OF ONE'S HOME COUNTRY. IT IS INCUMBENT ON PLTS/CREWS SUCH AS MYSELF TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CLRNC IS FULLY UNDERSTOOD AND COMPLIED WITH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.