B717 (Formerly MD-95)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
After landing on runway 8L; we were exiting the runway at intersection B11.  As we were preparing to exit the runway; the monitoring pilot was completing his callouts and the flying pilot called for flaps 18 and after landing checklist.  At that very moment; the tower controller issued a clearance to cross runway 8R.  He asked us to quickly to cross runway 8R at some Jet Base (not defined on the airport diagram as such).  Both pilots were not clear what he meant and asked the controller to clarify.  The controller then rudely and with an attitude stated cross runway 8R at the Jet Base.  I then figured the controller meant straight ahead at B10.  So we crossed runway 8R at B10 and contacted ground control.  No further confusion occurred and we taxed into the gate normally without incident. This was poor runway crossing instructions by this air traffic controller.  We as pilots are prepared to cross runways when given a intersection or runway.  However; we were unfamiliar with the Jet Base phraseology the controller was using.  If you are going to give runway crossing instructions; it should be at the appropriate intersection and not abeam some building we may or may not be familiar with that is not labeled such on the airport diagram.
Air Carrier First Officer reports non standard terminology by the ATL Tower when issuing runway crossing instructions at 'the jet base'.  The crew is confused and the Tower is not helpful.