Narrative:

This was my first flight to hrl since last incident; after almost a month I still try to figure out how we cross runway 17L-35R at wrong end? Upon landing on 17R the controller cleared me to make a left turn on B taxiway and we were cleared to cross 17L to parking and they never mention anything about crossing runway 31. Clearance for taxi out for departure that day to taxi 17R F; north; left cross 17L .when exiting southeast parking that day; I did not notice the misguided F sign with a black background east of 17L on B taxiway and I followed the sign and that took me to cross 17 left on the wrong side. I only noticed the wrong taxiway direction and indication on my last week trip. It was only after taxing out that day that I noticed; exiting southeast ramp on B; upon approaching F taxiway I could see a taxi sign B black background with F and arrow on each side indicating approach to taxiway F and as I was approaching taxiway F on B. I also could see the aircraft on F heading west. In other words; there is an F sign giving indication that you are on taxiway F which takes you directly to 35R-17L; showing portion of taxiway B is F taxiway. This sign gives a pilot [the] impression that the aircraft is on F; but the sign should be [to] turn north south direction and should not be visible to incoming traffic from southeast ramp on B. Any traffic exiting southeast ramp on B taxiway (only way to exit south east parking) could easily get confused and think that he or she is on F and continue and cross 35R-17L. It is very important that we take care of this situation; before a disaster happens. I believe that was why I continued on B; thinking then that I was on F taxiway previously. Also that could be a factor to other incidents at hrl. Taxiway signs on B east of 17L and taxiway F sign west of F and B intersection (for the aircraft exiting southeast ramp) need to be checked. Also I believe because the long taxi from southeast ramp to runway 17R ground control should only give portion of the clearance. It normally takes about 10 minutes to taxi from south east ramp to 17L at a normal taxi speed; and there after another 4 to 5 minutes to 17R. But my clearance on my last trip was to taxi F; north; left to 17R and cross 17L. If I was given F; north; hold short of 17L; I would have stopped and never crossed 17L at any taxiway; and ground would have noticed our wrong turn. Therefore no incident!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Air Carrier Captain reported that the black HRL Taxiway F sign near Taxiway B west bound out of the Southeast Ramp can confuse pilots and make them think straight ahead is F when F is actually angling slightly left; southwest bound.

Narrative: This was my first flight to HRL since last incident; after almost a month I still try to figure out how we cross Runway 17L-35R at wrong end? Upon landing on 17R the Controller cleared me to make a left turn on B Taxiway and we were cleared to cross 17L to parking and they never mention anything about crossing Runway 31. Clearance for taxi out for departure that day to taxi 17R F; N; L cross 17L .When exiting southeast parking that day; I did not notice the misguided F sign with a black background east of 17L on B Taxiway and I followed the sign and that took me to cross 17 L on the wrong side. I only noticed the wrong taxiway direction and indication on my last week trip. It was only after taxing out that day that I noticed; exiting southeast ramp on B; upon approaching F Taxiway I could see a taxi sign B black background with F and arrow on each side indicating approach to Taxiway F and as I was approaching Taxiway F on B. I also could see the aircraft on F heading west. In other words; there is an F sign giving indication that you are on Taxiway F which takes you directly to 35R-17L; showing portion of Taxiway B is F Taxiway. This sign gives a pilot [the] impression that the aircraft is on F; but the sign should be [to] turn north south direction and should not be visible to incoming traffic from southeast ramp on B. Any traffic exiting southeast ramp on B Taxiway (only way to exit south east parking) could easily get confused and think that he or she is on F and continue and cross 35R-17L. It is very important that we take care of this situation; before a disaster happens. I believe that was why I continued on B; thinking then that I was on F Taxiway previously. Also that could be a factor to other incidents at HRL. Taxiway signs on B east of 17L and Taxiway F sign west of F and B intersection (for the aircraft exiting southeast ramp) need to be checked. Also I believe because the long taxi from southeast ramp to Runway 17R Ground Control should only give portion of the clearance. It normally takes about 10 minutes to taxi from south east ramp to 17L at a normal taxi speed; and there after another 4 to 5 minutes to 17R. But my clearance on my last trip was to taxi F; N; L to 17R and cross 17L. If I was given F; N; hold short of 17L; I would have stopped and never crossed 17L at any taxiway; and Ground would have noticed our wrong turn. Therefore no incident!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.