Small Transport
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 78; Flight Crew Total 490; Flight Crew Type 66
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure; Airport
I received and read back clearance to taxi to Runway 9R via B; EE; N; and to hold short of T. The captain confirmed with me that we were told to taxi on B. I was following the airport diagram to verify our position on B relative to EE. Unable to find EE on the taxiway diagram; I asked the Captain for his assistance. He proceeded to help me locate and identify EE. By this time we were on Runway 9R/27L. The Captain realized where we were and exited the runway to the left. An aircraft on final went around. The situation could have been prevented by asking for progressive taxi when we received a route that we were not familiar with. I also should have focused more on looking outside the airplane instead of on the chart.
With ATIS received; First Officer contacted Clearance Delivery; received clearance and switched radio frequency to Ground. My attention was diverted to ground handlers to verify tail stand removal and stow. (Tail stand is normally removed and stowed while First Officer does final walk around before entering flight deck). Ground Controller contacted with taxi clearance: 'Call sign taxi; 9-Right; Bravo; Echo-Echo; November; hold short Tango'. First Officer read back correctly and I verified route starting with '9-Right; Bravo(?)'; while expediting taxi. (Other taxiing traffic was approaching from our left). I turned right on; Alpha. Followed by quick left on; Alpha-20. Then immediate left on; Bravo. (Alpha is generally clockwise while Bravo; counter clockwise). (This was unusual taxi instructions. I do not recall being given; Bravo in any previous taxi for departure). (There was much radio 'chatter' on ground frequency). I continued taxi on; Bravo while First Officer followed and attempted to find; Echo-Echo on airport diagram. First officer held up; iPad with; Airport Diagram and exclaimed; 'unable to locate; Echo-Echo'. I glanced over; asked First Officer to point to our location and let's see if we can find; Echo-Echo. First officer then sounded disoriented; held up; Airport Diagram; again; and I glanced over again. At this time I inadvertently taxi onto a runway. I momentarily continued taxi; turning left; (expecting in my mind a left turn to parallel; Alpha taxi). I noticed white paint and runway markings and expedited taxi; clearing runway. Before exiting runway; First Officer and I noticed inbound; air traffic on final approach. (I have been told traffic was instructed to go around on tower frequency). I taxied over to; Penalty Box; 32-Right Pad; and contacted Ground. Ground responded with taxi instructions. First Officer requested; 'progressive taxi' at my behest. Shortly afterwards Ground Controller contacted with; 'possible pilot deviation' and phone number to call after arriving at destination.Wow! Did I mess up! It's Friday and last leg of a 5 day. Fatigue. Unusual tail stand situation diverted my attention during clearance and ground taxi instructions. Disgruntled gate agent upset with late departures and aircraft holding in; Penalty Box. I was trying to accommodate. I expedited taxi; as usual; and automatically taxied. Should have waited; clarified instructions with Ground Control and waited for a break in chatter. Requested; progressive taxi if still unsure. Newer; low time First Officer. Been getting a lot of them lately. Worked out before. Practice what I preach; 'stop' if not on same page or disoriented during taxi. I took my eyes off the road; taxiway. This was the first time I taxied this way. Wrong way! Ground never contacted with; wrong way; what are you doing instructions. It's up to me to verify taxi instructions; familiarize flight crew before taxi and ask for help if needed.Please note: there is much ground construction at Chicago O'Hare Airport. Runway and taxi route assignments change; although slowly. After phone conference with tower and airport personnel; we concluded stating; 'left turn or right turn' as needed would be helpful. But even after this communication; ground control; after next arrival; stated; 'left' instead of right. We stopped and clarified. It was right turn; not left. This came from; I believe a well trained and seasoned air traffic controller. I feel that I; myself and Ground Controllers my be overcautious; 'walking on eggshells'. Caution should be taken not to second guess ourselves as well.
Air carrier flight crew reports receiving taxi instructions at ORD to taxi via B; EE; N. This requires taxiing south on B; but the flight is late and the Captain turns the standard north (counterclockwise) on B and ends up on Runway 32R. The First Officer is new and had questioned the Captain on the location of Taxiway EE causing some distraction.