B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240; Flight Crew Total 20000; Flight Crew Type 14000
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Human Factors
During taxi out to Runway 10L I may have inadvertently entered Taxiway T4 prior to contacting Ground control. I believe I was asked to hold at this taxiway and would be switched to Ground Control from Ramp Control. Just as I was entering this area Ramp Control sent us to Ground control who told us to continue to Runway 10L via Taxiway C. I believe I had mistaken the intersection of T4 and T5 as they are essentially co-located where C taxiway starts. There was no other traffic on these taxiways and no conflicts. I had slowed down to determine my position relative to this intersection prior to being switched to ground but may have been on T4 when switched. This intersection could use better signage and markings on the ramp to show you are leaving the ramp and entering a taxiway also adding a HS (Hot Spot) designation on the Taxiway chart would be helpful since it is an area where some landing traffic may enter the ramp/taxiway area rapidly as they exit the Runway.
B737 Captain believes he may have had a taxiway incursion at FLL when asked to hold short of Taxiway T4 and contact Ground. As the crew continues to taxi slowly Ramp Control issues instructions to contact Ground Control. Lack of signage was cited as a factor.