Taxiway signs and markings at sfo airport are inadequate.

Attributes
ACN	193816
Time
Date	199111
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Night
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	193816
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

A safety hazard exists at sfo international airport. Specifically, taxiways X at the end of 28L and both a and B abeam the international gates are not lit by lights or signs (in the case of X when landing 28L). When transitioning from B to a at F, it is virtually impossible to see F -- there is nothing but asphalt in that area -- no grass or other items which might help indicate where to turn. There's an immediate need for temporary lights or markings to help. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: callback was to FAA sfo tower supervisor. Tower supervisor stated he was not aware of any problem with the taxiway a and B markings and signs at taxiway F. He stated there is a problem with taxiway X and right at the west end of the airport not so much with air carrier flcs but GA pilots. The tower has suggested different colored taxiway lines in that area but FAA airports has rejected the idea because it is non standard markings. Tower supervisor also stated taxiway K at runway 28R is unlighted and flcs landing runway 28L have trouble finding the taxiway at night.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TAXIWAY SIGNS AND MARKINGS AT SFO ARPT ARE INADEQUATE.

Narrative: A SAFETY HAZARD EXISTS AT SFO INTL ARPT. SPECIFICALLY, TAXIWAYS X AT THE END OF 28L AND BOTH A AND B ABEAM THE INTL GATES ARE NOT LIT BY LIGHTS OR SIGNS (IN THE CASE OF X WHEN LNDG 28L). WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM B TO A AT F, IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE F -- THERE IS NOTHING BUT ASPHALT IN THAT AREA -- NO GRASS OR OTHER ITEMS WHICH MIGHT HELP INDICATE WHERE TO TURN. THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR TEMPORARY LIGHTS OR MARKINGS TO HELP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: CALLBACK WAS TO FAA SFO TWR SUPVR. TWR SUPVR STATED HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TAXIWAY A AND B MARKINGS AND SIGNS AT TAXIWAY F. HE STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TAXIWAY X AND R AT THE W END OF THE ARPT NOT SO MUCH WITH ACR FLCS BUT GA PLTS. THE TWR HAS SUGGESTED DIFFERENT COLORED TAXIWAY LINES IN THAT AREA BUT FAA ARPTS HAS REJECTED THE IDEA BECAUSE IT IS NON STANDARD MARKINGS. TWR SUPVR ALSO STATED TAXIWAY K AT RWY 28R IS UNLIGHTED AND FLCS LNDG RWY 28L HAVE TROUBLE FINDING THE TAXIWAY AT NIGHT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.