Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
I am writing the report to make a point about procedures I feel need to be considered at DFW based on a report I had to file as a result of a crew error last week. Today; landing on 18R I had a very similar experience to what lead to a runway incursion a week ago. Specifically; being given the clearance to cross the inboard Runway 18L during the high speed portion of exiting 18R during a change of flight and radio responsibilities while an aircraft is exiting a runway at high speed. Today; as we were exiting Runway 18R at high speed we were cleared to cross 18L at intersection W8. W8 is an intersection that doesn't even exist at DFW. The correct intersection to cross was 'G8'. We were told to 'Keep our speed up and cross W8'. While moving at a good speed; we had to confirm with the tower controller the correct intersection from one that did not even exist. I have an issue with this policy of clearing aircraft to cross the inboard runway when they have not even cleared the runway they're landing on. I understand that rapid crossing of runway 18L may lead to more efficient flow of aircraft; but obviously it has led to at least one runway incursion where I and my crew have earned an investigation for a crew error due to an accidental crossing of the inboard runway (18L) at DFW. Today; as a result of pressure to clear aircraft across the runway to pass on to ground; our tower controller cleared us to cross at an intersection that does not even exist at DFW. My new crew had to question the controller as to the correct intersection to cross while we were rolling at high speed off the runway. This is really bad as far as I'm concerned. As we rolled across G8; this time with a legal clearance we cleared to the left to see another aircraft pointing at us on 18L in a line up and wait position. All of this could be averted; as well as the report I had to file last week as well as the paperwork my crew had to fill out; if we just decided that we will not cross across the inboard runway until they have cleared and stopped off the outboard runway. While more efficient time wise; it is a bad idea to clear pilots across one active runway; when they haven't even cleared the runway they landed on. Telling a pilot to cross the inboard 18L and keep the speed up to cross is just plain bad and asking for more runway incursions in the future. The fact one occurred is one too many considering the importance of this issue to the FAA. As a Captain of a flight last week that had a runway incursion; I have had to file reports as well as FAA forms documenting both my flight experience as well as my FOs experience as a result of a mistake made at 70 kts exiting a runway during a flight control and radio transfer. Today; a controller can make one mistake in clearing our aircraft to cross a runway at an intersection that does not even exist in Dallas and the crew had to catch the mistake and clarify. Regardless if it delays efficiency by 10 seconds it is safer to clear pilots across the north [east] Runway 18L when they have slowed or stopped and have safely cleared 18R.
CRJ-900 Captain reported being cleared to cross Runway 18L via W8 at DFW while rolling out on Runway 18R and 'keep your speed up'. Taxiway G8 was what the Controller meant to say and caused confusion. The reporter believes that this type of clearance is not safe and may have led to his runway incursion previously.