Narrative:

Very confusing and hazardous issues with sat ground control today. We had an MEL for inop APU requiring gate start and crossbleed start. After receiving clearance to start then push; ground required us to taxi off gate to november; then use N3; to runway 04 which was closed; to start second motor on runway 04. While taxiing to N3; they amended clearance to hold short of N3 which we did; aligning us parallel to runway 04 facing south. We asked if we could start here and ground denied the request.we saw another small plane taxi toward us on north so it made sense to stop and they would probably use N3 to runway 04 for takeoff runway 30L. Unfortunately; ground directed us to taxi up to runway 04 then to hold short runway 04 at N3. I knew this was ok as long as we kept moving. Stopping in that position would put our exhaust right at the notamed construction area west of N3. Additionally; I did not notice until too late that N3 was sloped uphill but we had already turned into N3. Then ATC stopped us before runway 04. After a while; ground cleared us back onto runway 04; but I was unable to break free on one motor using 45%. In fact; anything less than 40% would allow the jet to roll backwards. Interestingly; we obtained required start psi of 30 psi using only 32%. We asked if we could start the second motor here and was denied by ground control. I set the brake and informed ground we would need a tug to reposition us. That took about 20 minutes; they pushed us back tail facing south onto north. There ground allowed us to start. I did not ask why we couldn't start facing south on north 30 minutes ago.once started; we were cleared to taxi to runway 12R; they changed runways but had not updated ATIS. They cleared us via the inner ramp and G taxi to 12R. That is all they said; yet we went face to face with three other air carriers we self-deconflicted on the inner ramp before ground made mention. Then we went face to face with another carrier clearing runway 30L and stopped before ATC issued stop instructions. These delays resulted in over 1 hour and 35 minutes of time.while I understand the construction issues here in sat; ATC appeared to be overtasked and under prepared for many of the simplest operations. They should never have stopped the movement of a single engine jet requiring crossbleed on an uphill grade with the tail facing directly toward notamed construction. They should have been far more proactive deconflicting ground traffic on the ramp and taxiways during a runway change.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reported unable to get clearance to start his second engine due to construction at SAT. Ground Control had the crew stop on an uphill taxiway with the tail of the aircraft pointed at the construction area. A tug was required to reposition the aircraft.

Narrative: Very confusing and hazardous issues with SAT Ground Control today. We had an MEL for inop APU requiring gate start and crossbleed start. After receiving clearance to start then push; Ground required us to taxi off gate to November; then use N3; to Runway 04 which was closed; to start second motor on Runway 04. While taxiing to N3; they amended clearance to hold short of N3 which we did; aligning us parallel to Runway 04 facing south. We asked if we could start here and Ground denied the request.We saw another small plane taxi toward us on N so it made sense to stop and they would probably use N3 to Runway 04 for takeoff Runway 30L. Unfortunately; Ground directed us to taxi up to Runway 04 then to hold short Runway 04 at N3. I knew this was OK as long as we kept moving. Stopping in that position would put our exhaust right at the NOTAMed construction area west of N3. Additionally; I did not notice until too late that N3 was sloped uphill but we had already turned into N3. Then ATC stopped us before Runway 04. After a while; Ground cleared us back onto Runway 04; but I was unable to break free on one motor using 45%. In fact; anything less than 40% would allow the jet to roll backwards. Interestingly; we obtained required start PSI of 30 PSI using only 32%. We asked if we could start the second motor here and was denied by Ground Control. I set the brake and informed Ground we would need a tug to reposition us. That took about 20 minutes; they pushed us back tail facing south onto N. There Ground allowed us to start. I did not ask why we couldn't start facing south on N 30 minutes ago.Once started; we were cleared to taxi to Runway 12R; they changed runways but had not updated ATIS. They cleared us via the inner ramp and G taxi to 12R. That is all they said; yet we went face to face with three other air carriers we self-deconflicted on the inner ramp before Ground made mention. Then we went face to face with another carrier clearing Runway 30L and stopped before ATC issued stop instructions. These delays resulted in over 1 hour and 35 minutes of time.While I understand the construction issues here in SAT; ATC appeared to be overtasked and under prepared for many of the simplest operations. They should never have stopped the movement of a single engine jet requiring crossbleed on an uphill grade with the tail facing directly toward NOTAMed construction. They should have been far more proactive deconflicting ground traffic on the ramp and taxiways during a runway change.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.