Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport
The procedures for crossing the holding position marking at the 4L approach differ depending on runway configuration in use. Note that the designs of the holding position markings for the 4L approach are identical to those for the veritable runway (see satellite view of BOS.) With the new taxi procedures that were instituted in recent years; pilots are trained never to cross a runway without explicit ATC instructions. The presence of an identical marking; one for which a pilot does not need explicit ATC clearance to cross creates a set up for confusion and ultimate incursion. Recently I landed Runway 32 in BOS clearing at J1. Ground cleared me to taxi via Juliet; Bravo; to hold short of Charlie. I know they intended for me to cross the 4L approach; but I don't feel right crossing the double yellow without a clearance; particularly in the vicinity of a charted incursion hot spot. I held and asked ground to confirm I was cleared across the 4L approach. My pause for clarification resulted in a re-sequence. Now I was told to hold short of Kilo in order to give way to jet traffic from right to left. This was no hardship for me; but I am sure it was an annoyance to Ground Control.I believe that if we need explicit clearance to cross a runway marking; then the same markings ought to require the same clearance. Otherwise pilots will become conditioned to disregard the hold markings which will contribute to a runway incursion. I pity the poor pilot who is new to Logan and unfamiliar with these procedures.
After landing on BOS Runway 32; a pilot questioned whether he could cross the Juliet hold line after exiting Runway 32 at J1 and while transitioning to Taxiway B.