EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
After landing; Tower issued instructions; '[Taxi via] B; U; Contact Ground.' As the Captain was taxiing off the runway I observed the taxiway sign that appeared to be on the taxiway we were on. The sign had a black 'U' between two directional signs; one of which was a 'B'. I quickly looked at the airport diagram and saw that one of the two parallel taxiways was 'A' so I assumed the other was 'B'. When the Captain didn't take the hard left turn I didn't say anything because I thought Taxiway B was the outboard taxiway. I switched to Ground and made contact. Ground then informed us that we missed the left turn to Taxiway U. He then reissued instructions to get us back to Taxiway U. After getting back on the correct taxiway; I looked closer at the airport diagram; 'B' is the taxiway coming off the runway with 'U' and 'A' being the parallel taxiways. The parallel taxiways next to the runways are 'U' and 'A'. Taxiway B is the taxiway used to exit Runway 2. Additionally; Taxiway B is a very short high speed taxiway. By the time the aircraft is clear of the runway; you are almost half way through Taxiway U; and the signs you can see from that point are confusing. Include the taxi as part of the brief. Look for areas that are not hot spots but confusing as traps.
EMB145 First Officer reports a taxiway incursion after landing on Runway 2 at RIC. The instructions were to take Taxiways B and U; but the crew missed U; which is a hard left from the B high speed exit; and wound up on A. Ground Control corrected the mistake.