Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1
Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Workload; Troubleshooting
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I was providing training on Ground 1 when Aircraft X exited Runway 25R and the trainee instructed them to taxi via C; N; north route. The Aircraft X pilot read back the instruction correctly. A minute later; I heard the OS (Operational Supervisor) advise us that Aircraft X taxied up L and not N which we; the training team; had not noticed. (Background: Taxiway K & L used to be the north route; but those are now a ramp area controlled by the City of LA for pushback from the international terminal. Taxiway N is now the north route.) This situation began to present itself several months ago when the taxiway routes first changed from L & K to N & P. It does not seem to happen as often; but I've now noticed four different scenarios in the last week (two last weekday; and two this same weekday.) It still seems to be a possibly systemic problem. In addition to Aircraft X; while the OS was telling me and the trainee that our 'scan needs to be better' to prevent this situation; Aircraft Y was under tow to Gate X and began to turn on K instead of L. (Per the LOA with the city; all arrivals to the ramp must enter via L & hold short of K1.) I immediately instructed Aircraft Y to stop; called the Ramp Tower to coordinate any potential traffic conflicts; then allowed the Aircraft Y reposition to continue. I'd recommend additional signage; a change to the charts; or added emphasis in the text of the 'north route' that emboldens how N is now the north route; not K or L. Or all of the above. The above recommendations would help alleviate the issue from the IFR/pilot side. Regarding the repositions/tows: the City of LA should disseminate refresher training to every airline that repositions aircraft on the LAX airfield. This training should be mandatory for any reposition operator and clearly explain the new procedures for the ramp. The response from Aircraft Y for why they turned on K instead of L was that they 'temporarily lost communication with their tow driver.' This response is unacceptable. Unless specifically instructed; no revenue flight or reposition is ever to enter the ramp via K.
LAX Ground Controller reported issues relating to the changing of a specified taxi route and flight crews not following the new routes.