Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 386
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Chart Or Publication
After pushback we requested taxi from Ramp Control. We were instructed to taxi and hold short of T2. Referencing our airport information pages and our Jepp 10-9B we started taxiing. We were told to give way to (other carrier) aircraft at T2 and continue taxi to T3; B; and hold short of Taxiway Q and contact Ground holding short Q. We taxied forward constantly looking for T2 off to our right. The taxiways and part of the island area were under construction and distinguishing the actual taxiways from the islands dividing them at night was difficult as there was no lighted signage. Ramp told us to stop and advised us that we passed T2. They said this has been happening a lot and asked if we missed the sign. We said 'Yes; it is completely unlit (the T2 sign also parallels the direction of taxi). Ramp said this keeps happening and they said the county actually covered some of the signs during construction against the instructions of the Controlling Ramp. The Ramp Controller asked if we'd like to make a formal complaint with the county and we answered 'Yes.' We were subsequently cleared to taxi out via T3 and (other carrier) aircraft gave way to us.
We pushed at night at FLL. Runway 10L/28R and many of its connecting taxiways were closed for reconstruction. These closures included Taxiways T1 and T2. After normal start procedures we contacted Ramp Control for taxi clearance and were given instructions to 'taxi Tango; hold short of T2.' Seconds later the Controller amended the clearance to say 'give way to an opposite direction aircraft at T2 and then proceed T3 to Bravo; hold short of Quebec. I started moving forward referring both to the taxi lights to our right and to the moving aircraft symbol on my EFB Jepp 10-9 page. I expected to see the entrance to T1 and T2 as dark patches amid the blue taxiway lights and illuminated signs indicating their location. When the aircraft symbol on the EFB was approximately halfway between T1 and T2 I stated; 'It looks like we have a little way to go yet.' At that moment; I looked ahead and saw the expected gap in the lights. A few seconds later another aircraft transmitted on Ramp frequency asking; 'Company is going to give way to us; correct?' The Controller responded; 'They were supposed to; but it looks like they have passed T2.' At that moment the FO said; 'Oh; yeah; there's the sign next to us.' I immediately stopped the aircraft. Due to limited space; the Controller then told the (other carrier) aircraft to hold and cleared us to taxi via T3 and Bravo to hold short of Quebec. After we resumed our taxi; the Ramp Controller asked; 'Is it a signage issue? This has happened a number of times.' In fact; it is a signage issue. The signs are unlit and are facing parallel to the taxiway; not directly facing the oncoming taxiing aircraft. The expected gaps in the lights are not as obvious as one would imagine which led me to mistake the intersection of T3 for that of T2. The Controller then asked; 'Would you like to file a formal complaint with the County?' We answered in the affirmative. 'Those signs down there are covered and not lit;' he added. We completed our taxi and departure with no further issues.
Air carrier flight crew reported a taxiway incursion at FLL airport due to covered/unlit taxiway signs.