Narrative:

I was unfamiliar with the taxiway structure at sav. I followed the yellow line curving off the runway as I exited runway 36, at sav. After clearing the runway we called tower for taxi clearance. The tower operator informed us, that taxiway B-2 was closed to aircraft over 12500 pounds, and closed at night because it was unlighted. I replied we were under 12500 pounds, and then the operator replied that taxiway B-2 was still closed at night because it was unlighted. Being in a position where I couldn't turn around, I replied that we needed to taxi to the area south of (commercial operator name). The tower operator then cleared us to taxi. I have rechked my NOTAMS from feb/tues/95 and there is no mention of taxiway B-2 being closed, as stated. The sav ATIS did not mention taxiway B-2 was closed, the controller did not mention taxiway B-2 was closed, when he cleared us to land. Further, if the taxiway was closed why is there a yellow taxi line leading to the taxiway? Today feb/wed/95 (XA00) I am on hold with GA pilot briefing because the briefer had no NOTAMS about taxiway B-2 but wanted to 'check something.' he has been checking, now, for 20 mins. I wonder if he is calling sav so they can 'cover their tracks.' it now appears my call was simply 'lost' in the telephone system. I have now learned that the NOTAM in question was published early this yr, and sent to macon FSS. When I called macon FSS today, they gave me 4 NOTAMS on sav, none of them referenced taxiway B-2. And they double-checked sav NOTAMS. I called (commercial chart publisher) they did not have anything on taxiway B-2. It appears that the only way I could have found out, about the taxiway B-2 situation, was to call the sav tower during regular hours of operation. I have come to a clear opinion. The NOTAM system is broken! It doesn't work!!!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING A NIGHT OP, A FLC EXITED A RWY, AFTER LNDG, ONTO AN UNLIGHTED, CLOSED TXWY.

Narrative: I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE TXWY STRUCTURE AT SAV. I FOLLOWED THE YELLOW LINE CURVING OFF THE RWY AS I EXITED RWY 36, AT SAV. AFTER CLRING THE RWY WE CALLED TWR FOR TAXI CLRNC. THE TWR OPERATOR INFORMED US, THAT TXWY B-2 WAS CLOSED TO ACFT OVER 12500 LBS, AND CLOSED AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS UNLIGHTED. I REPLIED WE WERE UNDER 12500 LBS, AND THEN THE OPERATOR REPLIED THAT TXWY B-2 WAS STILL CLOSED AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS UNLIGHTED. BEING IN A POS WHERE I COULDN'T TURN AROUND, I REPLIED THAT WE NEEDED TO TAXI TO THE AREA S OF (COMMERCIAL OPERATOR NAME). THE TWR OPERATOR THEN CLRED US TO TAXI. I HAVE RECHKED MY NOTAMS FROM FEB/TUES/95 AND THERE IS NO MENTION OF TXWY B-2 BEING CLOSED, AS STATED. THE SAV ATIS DID NOT MENTION TXWY B-2 WAS CLOSED, THE CTLR DID NOT MENTION TXWY B-2 WAS CLOSED, WHEN HE CLRED US TO LAND. FURTHER, IF THE TXWY WAS CLOSED WHY IS THERE A YELLOW TAXI LINE LEADING TO THE TXWY? TODAY FEB/WED/95 (XA00) I AM ON HOLD WITH GA PLT BRIEFING BECAUSE THE BRIEFER HAD NO NOTAMS ABOUT TXWY B-2 BUT WANTED TO 'CHK SOMETHING.' HE HAS BEEN CHKING, NOW, FOR 20 MINS. I WONDER IF HE IS CALLING SAV SO THEY CAN 'COVER THEIR TRACKS.' IT NOW APPEARS MY CALL WAS SIMPLY 'LOST' IN THE TELEPHONE SYS. I HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THE NOTAM IN QUESTION WAS PUBLISHED EARLY THIS YR, AND SENT TO MACON FSS. WHEN I CALLED MACON FSS TODAY, THEY GAVE ME 4 NOTAMS ON SAV, NONE OF THEM REFED TXWY B-2. AND THEY DOUBLE-CHKED SAV NOTAMS. I CALLED (COMMERCIAL CHART PUBLISHER) THEY DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING ON TXWY B-2. IT APPEARS THAT THE ONLY WAY I COULD HAVE FOUND OUT, ABOUT THE TXWY B-2 SIT, WAS TO CALL THE SAV TWR DURING REGULAR HRS OF OP. I HAVE COME TO A CLR OPINION. THE NOTAM SYS IS BROKEN! IT DOESN'T WORK!!!

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.