Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
General None Reported / Taken
Weather; Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related
I was working local when an aircraft called and said that he was on skis and could not stop short of the ski strip. I asked if he was ready and cleared him for takeoff. I had no other traffic that was on the runway or inbound; so it was not a factor for anyone else. The ski strip is not close to the Tower and I could not tell the aircraft's exact position due to the distance and the lack of defined edges or marking due to it being a ski strip. Because the aircraft has no brakes; there is not much we can do. We; as controllers; have to be extra vigilant before giving a clearance for the ski strip to make sure this does not happen when someone else is cleared.
Tower Controller described a likely runway incursion event when an aircraft on skis taxiing for departure could not hold short of the active ski strip.