Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 400; Flight Crew Type 130
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Workload; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft
I am a Flight Instructor at LAF. The lack of appropriate airport signage and taxiway markings at one of its major taxiway intersection is a recurring source of confusion for pilots who are unfamiliar with the airport. The Taxiway C/B Intersection lacks signage. Taxiing north on B from Runway 10/28 or northwest on B 3 from Runway 5/23; there is no signage pointing to Taxiway C. Both of these taxiways are popular exit points from Runway 10/28 and Runway 5/23.That same intersection lacks appropriate taxiway pavement markings. There is no taxiway centerline that connects Taxiway south/southwest-bound to Taxiway B3 or Taxiway B. The centerline only connects Taxiway C so that it takes aircraft northeast on Taxiway B. This centerline design seems to make unfamiliar pilots think that such turns are unauthorized; which leads them to (correctly) question their taxi instructions with the Ground Controller. Airport Operations designed the taxiway centerline at this intersection in a way that suggests no aircraft would need to turn southwest onto Taxiway B from Taxiway C; west onto Taxiway C from B; or west onto Taxiway C from Taxiway B3. This is a significant oversight; since most of LAF's traffic consists of single-engine VFR aircraft; who exit Taxiway 23 at B3 or exit Taxiway 28 on B. Almost all non-tenant aircraft intend to taxi to the FBO on the airport; which is located off of Taxiway C. Therefore; the aforementioned turns at this intersection are used on a daily basis.Nearly all of the confusion could be eliminated if the airport installed a sign at this intersection to clearly define the location of Taxiway C. [A sign is already available but they lack the cement block necessary to install it.] Given how frequent pilot confusion occurs at this intersection; the airport administration needs to put this on a higher priority level.I noticed upon closer examination that this taxiway intersection is unmarked from all sides. Therefore; not only can pilots taxiing north on Taxiway B or Taxiway B3 not easily locate Taxiway C; but neither can aircraft taxiing south on Taxiway B who need to turn right on Taxiway C. Additionally; when taxiing east on Taxiway C; there is no signage pointing to Taxiway B whatsoever.The fact that this intersection is so close to two runways makes me fear that the mis-marked intersection has the potential to negatively impact safety. Taxiing east on Taxiway C; pilots could accidentally continue straight ahead onto Runway 23 if they are waiting to find a sign pointing to Taxiway B. Alternatively; if their runway assignment is Runway 5; and they need to get there via Taxiway C and Taxiway B; they could turn left on Taxiway B in accordance with the only painted line at that intersection; creating a nose-to-nose situation with aircraft taxiing south on Taxiway B to Runway 5.
A LAF based pilot reported while taxiing north and south on Taxiways B and West on B3; signage identifying Taxiway C is missing. Taxiing eastbound on Taxiway C; signage identifying Taxiway B is missing.