Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Human Factors
I had to make a tight spin out of the gate with a Dash 8 behind me and a CR9 in front of me. While making the turn with minimum and idle thrust; and keeping an eye on the ground crew; I crossed the line from the non-movement area onto Taxiway A before receiving a taxi clearance from ground. The First Officer (FO) was calling ground as we started our movement; and I was expecting to receive a taxi clearance quickly. Additionally; I did not realize how close the border of the non-movement area was to our gate. Unfortunately; the FO's headset was not plugged completely in and his first couple transmissions to ground was unsuccessful. As I realized I was now halfway onto Taxiway A; and the FO wasn't transmitting; I keyed the mike and got a taxi clearance immediately. There is no indication on the 10-9 diagram nor on the 10-7 pages of where the non-movement area ends. The main thing I can do to prevent this from happening is a behavioral and habit change. I'm used to; and in the habit of; expecting there to be plenty of room to make a turn off a gate before entering a movement area. I the future I will make a habit of calling ground to receive a proper taxi clearance before any aircraft movement regardless of how familiar I think I am with the airfield.
CRJ-700 Captain reports inadvertently entering the movement area during a U turn out of the gate at ELM due to the close proximity of the line and the First Officer's calls for clearance going unanswered.