Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 25
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I had 2 [of the same aircraft type] holding short of Runway 14; one at Taxiway A and the other in the run-up area. Aircraft X called ready to go as aircraft Y crossed over the hold short line at 'A' and proceeded onto the runway. I thought the aircraft that called was the one moving and asked if he was already on the runway. Then aircraft Y on the runway called ready to depart as he taxied down Runway 14 to Runway 19. I told aircraft Y to cross Runway 14 back to run-up area and contact Ground for a possible pilot deviation. The taxiway markings and runway signs at the field are very confusing and lead to many mistakes. I do not know if that would have stopped this incident; but better signage would certainly help to avoid mistakes by pilots not familiar with this airport.
An incident occurred in which an aircraft taxied onto an active runway. Five minutes before the incident; the aircraft called me on Ground Control for taxi instructions. I gave the instructions to taxi to the active runway; Runway 14; via Taxiway Yankee. The pilot replied; '[Aircraft X]; Yankee to one four.' I watched him taxi to the runway and due to lack of signage he began to turn at Taxiway Alpha just short of the run-up area. He stopped short of the hold bars for Runway 14. A few minutes later; an aircraft that just arrived turned off at Taxiway Bravo to contact me. He called me and said; 'Ground; aircraft Z for [parking].' One second later; before I could reply to aircraft Z; aircraft X called and said; 'Aircraft X ready for departure one four; I think I'm on the little short thing just for the other runway.' I did not catch him say that; but I knew it was him who called. Just before I talked to him; I scanned and he was still holding short of Runway 14 at Taxiway Alpha. I then replied to aircraft Z to taxi to Runway 14 via Yankee; then corrected myself realizing he was not a taxi back; and instructed him to taxi to [parking] via Yankee. Then; before I could reach out to aircraft X; he contacted me a second time with; 'Aircraft X ready for departure one four.' Again; I scanned; saw him at Alpha holding short of Runway 14; and replied; 'Aircraft X contact Tower;' since he thought he was on the Tower frequency. I then scanned to make sure aircraft Z was taxiing as instructed and that's when I heard the Local Controller say; 'Hey; hey!' pointing at aircraft X; who was crossing the hold bars and taxing onto Runway 14 without a clearance to do so. I told the Local Controller his aircraft ID and he tried to reach aircraft X with nil results. So; I reached out and said; 'Aircraft X contact Tower!' He replied; 'Roger; contacting Tower.' Local Control established contact and instructed the pilot to exit the runway and contact the Tower via phone for a pilot deviation. Santa Rosa Sonoma County Airport has a lack of signage. There have been many complaints regarding this. Better signage on the taxiways [is needed].
Two STS controllers report a Runway 14 incursion at Taxiway A because of poor taxiway and runway signage.