Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 10030
Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Gate
Airport; Human Factors; Weather; Procedure
Taxi out in normal low visibility. Prior to taking runway; the aircraft behind us reported we had a streamer hanging on the left side of tail. Had to return to gate; elevator feel pitot cover on left side not removed after wash. Cleaning crew and Maintenance both missed this. MRD (Maintenance Release Document) showed covers installed and removed. Visibility near zero on ramp when First Officer performed [the] walk around. On taxi back; entered Runway 27 for back taxi. Instructed to exit at D then join B. D is a reverse high-speed. There is no signage when heading west; no taxi lead off line. It requires a 140-degree turn. In the dark and fog; misjudged the turn and not able to see that I would not be able to complete turn until my lights pointed south. Stopped aircraft; did not think I could turn right with runway lights proximity or continue left with the non-movement area. I was coordinating for a tug when Airport Operations came out and said we were good to complete turn.
Upon arrival at the jet; I performed an exterior inspection. The weather was extremely foggy with near zero visibility conditions. I did not notice anything unusual during my inspection and we pushed off the gate on time.... We taxied back to the gate and had the pitot cover removed.
Air Carrier flight crew reported that when returning to the gate at SAN to remove a pitot cover; they encountered difficulty finding Delta Taxiway in the fog due to lack of signage and a lead-in line when coming off Runway 27.