Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 7.0
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Distraction; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Chart Or Publication; Company Policy; Procedure
The airport is having a lot of confusion with the new Taxilane Hotel. I used Taxilane Hotel to taxi Aircraft X; and had him hold short of Taxiway Delta 1. There is a bottleneck situation that can develop in that area in front of the Tower due to the construction. After I was able to exit an aircraft onto his ramp and get them out of the way; I then taxied Aircraft X to Runway 8 at D; via Taxiway D1; A; for departure. Upon his taxiout; Aircraft X hit a sign with his right wingtip. I was watching the aircraft; who made a sharp left turn after I had specifically told him to turn right at D1. It appeared the aircraft had blown over the sign. (Airport safety later told us the plane hit the sign.) Aircraft X did not inform me they had hit anything at first. They simply said they wanted to go back to the ramp. The sign is huge and the airport positioned it right on top of the taxilane to the very south of it. The airport listed Taxilane Hotel as a taxiway. The airport safety personnel are confused on a daily basis. The written guidance the Control Tower received is that Taxilane Hotel goes up to Taxiway D1. There is no wingspan restriction. Looking out the window; I couldn't even tell the aircraft had hit the sign because the Aircraft X was in the middle of the taxilane; following the centerline like he should be. We use Taxilane Hotel and take aircraft to Taxiway D1 every day (for smaller jets/Aircraft X's). Airport safety then moved the sign out of the way and further back; knowing full well that it had been too close to the movement area. The airport superintendent just issued a NOTAM literally 10 minutes ago as I'm writing this.NOTAM: TWY TXL H between TWY C1 and TWY B2 SFC markings not standard. This is also wrong. Taxilane Hotel continues to Taxiway D1; and there's no mention of it on there. It is also painted as a taxilane up to D1. The airport staff (unit vehicles) are confused constantly; and the pilots who operate on this field call the Tower multiple times a day to ask about the new movement area. None of the airport taxi companies seem to have been briefed; even though this effects their operations daily. The NOTAMs that the airport put out are wrong. Taxilane Hotel is not a taxiway; as stated in the NOTAMs. The NOTAMs about Taxilane Hotel were also put out late and in a rush. The airport should not have a large; un-lighted sign right on top of a movement area. The airport needs to get it together. This is the second report I've filed this week because of confusion from the pilots; airport safety operators; and other controllers who work in the Tower.
JNU Tower Ground Controller reported a taxiing aircraft turned the wrong direction and struck a sign which was placed too close to the movement area. The Controller reports users and airport ground workers are confused and not clear about new taxiway markings and procedures which have not been implemented and charted correctly.