Narrative:

Dca ground control uses a non-standard term of 'blocks' when referring to the hold pads at the runway ends (e.g.; taxi to the runway 4 hold block via J - P). These holding 'blocks' are not labeled or otherwise shown on the commercial airport diagram. Moreover; these 'blocks' have painted dashed lines outlining the desired holding area that are not published. To prevent confusion the dca airport authority and FAA need to work together to have these 'blocks' labeled on published charts. They also might want to consider changing their terminology from 'blocks' to the more common term 'pad.' while we are addressing publication issues at dca; we might as well address the unofficial northwest noise abatement departure procedure. This procedure is included in ATC clearances and needs to become an official published procedure.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that both the taxi phraseology and the departure clearances issued at dca are not the norm. When receiving ATC clearance departing to the north; flts are cleared the 'northwest noise abatement departure procedure.' the term; 'block' is a position routinely referred to in the taxi clearance. These positions are not depicted on any chart; and the departure procedure can only be located on a noise abatement page.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 PLT REPORTED THAT DCA GND CONTROL REFERS TO 'BLOCKS' RATHER THAN 'HOLD' OR 'RUNUP PADS' WHEN REFERRING TO RWY HOLDING POSITIONS FOR ACFT AWAITING TKOF CLRNC. DEP CLRNCS INCLUDE THE NOISE ABATEMENT DEP; BUT THIS IS NOT A PUBLISHED SID.

Narrative: DCA GROUND CONTROL USES A NON-STANDARD TERM OF 'BLOCKS' WHEN REFERRING TO THE HOLD PADS AT THE RUNWAY ENDS (E.G.; TAXI TO THE RWY 4 HOLD BLOCK VIA J - P). THESE HOLDING 'BLOCKS' ARE NOT LABELED OR OTHERWISE SHOWN ON THE COMMERCIAL AIRPORT DIAGRAM. MOREOVER; THESE 'BLOCKS' HAVE PAINTED DASHED LINES OUTLINING THE DESIRED HOLDING AREA THAT ARE NOT PUBLISHED. TO PREVENT CONFUSION THE DCA AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND FAA NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE THESE 'BLOCKS' LABELED ON PUBLISHED CHARTS. THEY ALSO MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER CHANGING THEIR TERMINOLOGY FROM 'BLOCKS' TO THE MORE COMMON TERM 'PAD.' WHILE WE ARE ADDRESSING PUBLICATION ISSUES AT DCA; WE MIGHT AS WELL ADDRESS THE UNOFFICIAL NW NOISE ABATEMENT DEPARTURE PROCEDURE. THIS PROCEDURE IS INCLUDED IN ATC CLEARANCES AND NEEDS TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL PUBLISHED PROCEDURE.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED THAT BOTH THE TAXI PHRASEOLOGY AND THE DEPARTURE CLEARANCES ISSUED AT DCA ARE NOT THE NORM. WHEN RECEIVING ATC CLRNC DEPARTING TO THE NORTH; FLTS ARE CLEARED THE 'NORTHWEST NOISE ABATEMENT DEPARTURE PROCEDURE.' THE TERM; 'BLOCK' IS A POSITION ROUTINELY REFERRED TO IN THE TAXI CLRNC. THESE POSITIONS ARE NOT DEPICTED ON ANY CHART; AND THE DEPARTURE PROCEDURE CAN ONLY BE LOCATED ON A NOISE ABATEMENT PAGE.

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.