Narrative:

While moving south on taxiway D for sdf runway 35R at intersection D-1 at night in preparation for flight from sdf; we noticed the '35 approach' sign 'wig wag' lights illuminated and flashing; and the markings on the taxiway which are identical to the normal runway 'hold short' markings. The note on the sdf company briefing page says 'the '35R approach' sign and lights at taxiway D1 refer to a terps obstacle free zone. There is no requirement to stop and hold here unless specifically instructed by tower.' having said that; I believe it is a very bad habit for pilots to get into to ignore flashing/illuminated 'wig wag' lights and to cross what appears to be 'hold short' markings without positive clearance from tower. I suggest two things to make the sdf intersection D-1 safer. 1) the 'wig wag' lights should be shut off (not illuminated) unless they are needed to signal pilots to stop at that point on taxiway delta. 2) the runway 'hold short' markings on taxiway D at intersection D-1 should be replaced with other more appropriate markings. With increased emphasis on avoiding runway incursions; we are conditioning pilots to ignore all the warning signs that; at any other airport; would be warning them to stop until cleared across the 'hold short' line and 'wig wag lights.' this situation is similar to telling a motorist that it is ok to run the 'red' light on main street; unless someone tells you otherwise. Present this issue to the FAA and sdf for ideas on how to take corrective actions. The sdf tower controller told us that they get questions all the time about this issue from pilots.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR PLT DISCUSSES THE NEGATIVE TRAINING GIVEN WHEN PLTS ARE INSTRUCTED TO NOT HOLD SHORT OF SDF RWY 35R AT THE RWY GUARD LIGHTS ON TXWY D-1.

Narrative: WHILE MOVING SOUTH ON TAXIWAY D FOR SDF RUNWAY 35R AT INTERSECTION D-1 AT NIGHT IN PREPARATION FOR FLIGHT FROM SDF; WE NOTICED THE '35 APCH' SIGN 'WIG WAG' LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING; AND THE MARKINGS ON THE TAXIWAY WHICH ARE IDENTICAL TO THE NORMAL RUNWAY 'HOLD SHORT' MARKINGS. THE NOTE ON THE SDF COMPANY BRIEFING PAGE SAYS 'THE '35R APCH' SIGN AND LIGHTS AT TAXIWAY D1 REFER TO A TERPS OBSTACLE FREE ZONE. THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO STOP AND HOLD HERE UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED BY TOWER.' HAVING SAID THAT; I BELIEVE IT IS A VERY BAD HABIT FOR PILOTS TO GET INTO TO IGNORE FLASHING/ILLUMINATED 'WIG WAG' LIGHTS AND TO CROSS WHAT APPEARS TO BE 'HOLD SHORT' MARKINGS WITHOUT POSITIVE CLEARANCE FROM TOWER. I SUGGEST TWO THINGS TO MAKE THE SDF INTERSECTION D-1 SAFER. 1) THE 'WIG WAG' LIGHTS SHOULD BE SHUT OFF (NOT ILLUMINATED) UNLESS THEY ARE NEEDED TO SIGNAL PILOTS TO STOP AT THAT POINT ON TAXIWAY DELTA. 2) THE RUNWAY 'HOLD SHORT' MARKINGS ON TAXIWAY D AT INTERSECTION D-1 SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH OTHER MORE APPROPRIATE MARKINGS. WITH INCREASED EMPHASIS ON AVOIDING RUNWAY INCURSIONS; WE ARE CONDITIONING PILOTS TO IGNORE ALL THE WARNING SIGNS THAT; AT ANY OTHER AIRPORT; WOULD BE WARNING THEM TO STOP UNTIL CLEARED ACROSS THE 'HOLD SHORT' LINE AND 'WIG WAG LIGHTS.' THIS SITUATION IS SIMILAR TO TELLING A MOTORIST THAT IT IS OK TO RUN THE 'RED' LIGHT ON MAIN STREET; UNLESS SOMEONE TELLS YOU OTHERWISE. PRESENT THIS ISSUE TO THE FAA AND SDF FOR IDEAS ON HOW TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. THE SDF TOWER CONTROLLER TOLD US THAT THEY GET QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME ABOUT THIS ISSUE FROM PILOTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.