Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 2
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Workload; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Human Factors; Procedure
While working Local Control; the several tower members observed two pedestrians with camera equipment enter the movement areas multiple times. First; they walked questionable close to the movement area at the back of the Runway 31 Run-up. I am not sure if they entered the run-up or not; but they were watched as they continued walking towards Taxiway Zulu near Lima. They set up their camera equipment and then crossed Taxiway Zulu at Lima and went into the median between Zulu and Runway 31.At this point I stopped normal operations and sent two aircraft around; Aircraft X and Aircraft Y. I also held Aircraft Z short of Runway 31 and did not issue a takeoff clearance while pedestrians were in close proximity to the runway. I also advised an aircraft who was originally taxiing back to Runway 31 via Zulu to use extreme caution as the taxi path took them in close proximity to the pedestrians. While I was working the traffic; other controllers got in touch with Airport 1; another controller walked out to the catwalk and yelled for the pedestrians to move away from the runway back into the non-movement area. Once the pedestrians were clear of all movement areas I resumed normal operations. Airport 1 was able to get to the pedestrians as they were still on Lima to issue the deviations. Apparently the photographers were there at the request of an aircraft; Aircraft A; to take pictures while they flew the traffic pattern. They made a comment that they told the photographers to stay on the far side of the fence. I think if any pedestrians are being asked to be near the movement area; they should have an escort by someone who knows where pedestrians can or cannot go on the field.
PAO Controller observes people not authorized near a runway on a taxiway. Controller stops operation until a airport vehicle removes the people.