B737-700
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 257
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Airport
When taxi instructions were issued they were 'Company flight number; taxi Juliet Bravo to Runway 4.' LaGuardia had a steady stream of arrivals but we were the only aircraft taxiing out. We taxied to the Runway 4 hold short line and were waiting our turn. Tower sent the next two aircraft around and at first issued instructions for us to 'line up and wait' and then reissued instructions to cross Runway 4. We were eventually taxied back to Runway 4 again. There was obviously a problem but we had no clue as what or why. ATC was queried and we found out there was an issue with our wing tip clearance onto the runway landing zone. We were the cause of the two aircraft going around. As we taxied back to the runway; we were told to hold short at the ILS hold short line. We complied. On ATIS Juliet there was the remark; 'ILS hold line in use.' It seems it is common practice to hold short of the ILS hold short line and not the runway hold short line when using Runway 4 even during daylight VFR conditions. There is no mention on our Commercial Chart's [key notes] page of this practice although there is a caution on the [other notes] page; which states; Aircraft taxiing on Bravo for Runway 4 departure may be instructed to hold at the ILS hold short line. Although ATC failed to issue these instructions to us; it would be a good idea to include this in the [key notes] page so that we would be aware of a common practice at LaGuardia when operating landing and departing aircraft on Runway 4.
[Narrative #2 contained no additional information.]
Air Carrier taxiing for departure at LGA passed the ILS hold line for Runway 4 resulting in several ATC issued go arounds; the reporter noting more exacting information regarding this common procedure should be published.