Date: 201208
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: DCA.Airport, DC
Flight conditions: VMC
Aircraft: Regional Jet CL65; Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Tower DCA
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Ground Incursion Runway
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Taxi
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: We were taxiing on Taxiway J; and told to hold short of Runway 1/19 on Taxiway F. We held short as instructed. We were then cleared across Runway 1/19; and told to hold short of Runway 33 and monitor Tower on the other side. As I was taxiing toward Runway 33; I realized I had also crossed Runway 4/22 without obtaining a clearance. The controller didn't mention it and we departed on Runway 33 after a short delay. ATC never mentioned my mistake. However; under current FAA and ICAO guidance; we are required to obtain explicit permission to cross all runways we encounter. I noticed that I was on a runway as I taxied across it.The runway layout in DCA is conducive to this type of error. The close proximity of Runway 4/22 and Runway 1/19 where Taxiway F crosses is a contributing factor. There are no hold short lines to warn you that you are about to cross another runway; the runways are too close for standard hold short lines. Further; the Airport Diagram for DCA does not have this particular intersection identified as a runway incursion hot spot. Taxiway G's intersection with Runway 1/19 is identified as a 'Hot Spot;' but Taxiway F where it crosses 1/19 and then immediately crosses 4/22 is not identified as a hot spot. If the controllers expect aircraft to cross both runways darn near simultaneously; they should clear us across both runways in the same clearance. If they ever expect us to hold short of 4/22 after crossing 1/19; I think they have unrealistic expectations. I believe that holding short of 4/22 on Taxiway F would place the tail of my airplane too close to traffic taking off on 1/19. But technically; a specific crossing clearance is required. So either way; there is a safety issue....if a pilot stops to comply with the 'technically correct' methodology and awaits a further clearance across 4/22; he could jeopardize aircraft taking off on 1/19 behind him. But assuming you're cleared to cross a runway for which you did not receive an explicit clearance is also unsafe. I rolled clear of the runway on the other side. DCA controllers need to be aware of this issue and issue explicit clearance to cross BOTH runways when utilizing Taxiway F to get traffic over to Runway 33. Company pilots need to be aware of this issue and specifically request clearance to cross 4/22 if they do not receive it when they're cleared across 1/19. Perhaps the FAA needs to designate the intersection of Taxiway F with 1/19 and 4/22 as a hot spot.




Synopsis: After being cleared to cross Runway 1 on Taxiway F hold short of Runway 33; Air Carrier Captain realizes that he has also crossed Runway 4 without a clearance.