Date: 201507
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: DFW.Airport, TX
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Ground DFW
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Confusion
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: Taxi
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Airport; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: We had taxied out to the end of runway 17R on taxiway EF; and were number 2 for takeoff. The aircraft in front of us was not ready for departure; so Tower instructed us to taxi over to Taxiway EG. Without hesitance we proceeded to EG without viewing the taxiway chart; while following the painted pavement directional signs; first passing by the pavement indication of EF at the EG entrance (unknowingly). The painted pavement signage we were approaching suggested that the taxiway EG was the last taxiway to the right (as I later discovered that it is an offset or lead-in for an approaching indication and not a reverse taxiway approach; as we were taxing in a reverse direction). While in transient; I questioned the signage and why we would not just taxi to the middle taxiway; and had the First Officer to query the Tower. There was an FAA jump seater in the flight deck; and he physically pointed to the painted pavement taxiway sign and said that the painted pavement signage indicated taxiway EG was to the far right and the First Officer agreed. As I turned on to taxiway EH; I saw a normal upright off-taxiway sign indicating that we were on taxiway EH. I stated to the FAA Inspector; I think the ground painted signage is wrong.I was correct; as it turns out that the middle taxiway was EG. The FAA Inspector said that the painted pavement signage was confusing and misleading. The FAA Inspector said that he is not going to write this as a pilot deviation; but would write it up as a site report; wherein; the FAA will send a truck out to the same position to view the confusing signage; and possibly correct it. After further discussion; I realize that most taxiways are designed for aircraft approaching from a forward direction to the runway; and since we were basically taxing in reverse (as we were originally on the last taxiway); the signage could possibly have a reverse effect; in terms of directional instruction. When I returned to the taxiway EF the next day; I reviewed the painted pavement signage; and it indicated at the position of taxiway EG that it was EF; and it indicated at EH that it was taxiway EG on the pavement. I discovered the reverse effect of the ground painted taxiway signage; as they were lead-in indications.I would like to add that I should have simply stopped and reinitiated the Ipad diagram (after 15 minutes; an Ipad goes to sleep mode) and looked at the airport diagram; instead of following the painted pavement signage or assuming both the FAA Jumpseat Inspector and the First Officer were correct.


Second narrative: We were holding short of 17R on EF. We were number two in line for the runway. The plane in front of us was troubleshooting a warning message; so Tower advised us to taxi around him and hold short of 17R on EG. The way the taxiway markers are set up is for aircraft coming from the South; so if you we're coming from the North like we we're it can actually look like the EG line is pointing to the EH line because of how the markers are offset in between the taxiway signs. We made the mistake of going to the EH taxiway rather than EG like we we're instructed. ATC never mentioned our wrong doing; nor did we interrupt any other aircraft procedures; we just we told to depart from EH instead.The way the taxiway markers are offset in between the taxiways can be deceiving to aircraft taxiing from North to South at the end of 17R. Possibly if there were markings at the beginning of the runway hold short taxiways it could make it easier for aircraft to identify the proper taxiway. Bottom line is this is a rare situation; that not many aircraft will be in; but we did make the mistake; and it could have been prevented with a simple look back at our taxiway diagram; but with such close proximity of our new taxi instructions; and the event unfolding quickly; we still made the mistake.


Synopsis: CRJ900 flight crew; holding behind another aircraft on Taxiway EF at DFW; is told to taxi around that aircraft and use Taxiway EG to the runway. The painted taxiway signs are confusing when viewed facing south and the crew ends up on Taxiway EH instead of EG. The airport diagram; displayed via iPad; was not consulted.