Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 21; Flight Crew Total 5021; Flight Crew Type 3721
Confusion; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Airport
While taxiing for departure at MCO from a southwest location on the field to a departure from Runway 17R ([Runway] 18L closed for construction and [Runway] 18L closed for aircraft issue); Ground Controller gave me taxi instructions from the FBO to Alpha to Bravo 2 cross [Runway] 18R and hold short of [Runway] 18L. After arriving and holding short of [Runway] 18L he issued further instructions to cross [Runway] 18L turn right on Charlie then left on Juliette to Juliette 4 and hold short of Juliette 4. Ground then gave a corporate jet following me the same instructions except for them to hold at Juliette 2. I asked Ground to clarify my hold at Juliette 4 and he confirmed. I continued taxi when he said for me to hold and let the corporate jet pass me since he had a slot time into his destination; which I did. He said after the corporate jet passed to continue on to [Runway] 17R and monitor Tower on 118.45. I asked the Ground Controller if he still needed the hold at Juliette 4 which he said I was already past Juliette 4 and just follow the corporate jet.Then I realized that the Juliette 4 taxiway sign was positioned facing to the north and it was necessary to face south to see it. I was taxing east on Juliette and failed to see the sign. I had seen the Juliette 3 sign and was prepared to stop; but obviously got past J4 and stopped before I got to J5 when I observed the sign. There were no other aircraft in the vicinity other than the corporate jet; which passed me on the Airside 2 ramp and no issues resulted to my knowledge. I have been flying out of MCO for many years and this was a highly irregular taxi due to the closure of both [runways] 18R and 18L; so I was diligently paying attention to the taxi instructions since I was operating in the air carrier environment. I am amiss how I could have possibly gotten by J4 without seeing it. In reviewing the airport diagram for MCO it appears J3 and J4 share the same taxiway that is undivided by a median of grass so maybe one is for inbound and the other for outbound to the north side of Airside 2 air carrier ramp. If that is the case the sign was positioned on the east side of the taxiway thus past it before it is visible. I know it is my responsibility to adhere to all instructions and I obviously missed this one. In the future I will stop taxi and query the controller before potentially making a similar mistake. I don't think any issues resulted; but nonetheless I don't like making mistakes especially when I am so diligently paying attention and watching intently for my hold short point.
The reporter returned to that area of MCO by ground vehicle and visually verified that the correct taxiway signage on the north side of Taxiway J approaching Taxiways J3 and J4. The signs are difficult to see in a small aircraft; but probably not difficult in an air carrier type aircraft higher off the pavement.
A pilot reported he failed to hold short of MCO Taxiway J4 while taxiing eastbound on J because he did not see the J4 sign because it was difficult to see in an aircraft low to the ground.