Narrative:

This problem arose by a local operator parking a B727 so that it blocks a taxiway from the GA to other txwys (3). It requires that all aircraft to or from the GA apron must enter and exit via an active runway (runway 24). The aircraft parks west of a designated gate. Contributing factors: 2 txwys that could be used are blocked by the B727 preventing aircraft from exiting the GA apron and taxiing by rtes that do not conflict with rww 6-24. All traffic to or from the GA apron must use runway 6-24 and taxiway J only. On the night of the event, a G2 was on approach to ILS runway 28R. The pilot requested circle runway 24 due to strong southwest winds. Subsequently the lifeguard flight requested taxi for departure. He was advised to hold position since insufficient time was left to leave the apron, enter runway 24, and clear before the G2 arrived. The pilot then asked to taxi via taxiway C and was denied since taxiway H, the access to taxiway C, was closed. The pilot then asked for priority and was again denied since the IFR G2 was on short final to runway 24. The G2 landed, entered at the lone taxiway available, then the lifeguard was taxied. Total delay -- 5 mins. How it was discovered: controller in the tower pointed out the conflict and potential problems. Corrective actions: none taken. All responsible personnel on the airport know about the situation. Solution: move the aircraft to gate X in front of the terminal. Free up taxiway H and G, eliminates traffic conflicts, and would have avoided this delay to a lifeguard with a critically ill person on board.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATCT TWR CTLR SAYS HE WAS UNABLE TO TAXI A LIFEGUARD ACFT OUT TO THE RWY FROM THE GA RAMP DUE TO A B727 PARKED ON THE RAMP AND BLOCKING 3 TXWYS. THE ONLY TAXI RTE AVAILABLE WAS NOT OPEN FOR THE LIFEGUARD ACFT DUE TO AN ACFT ON APCH TO THE RWY THE LIFEGUARD ACFT WOULD HAVE TO TAXI ON. RPTR SAYS ARPT AUTH KNOWS OF THE PROB, BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SIT. RPTR DENIED THE LIFEGUARD HIS PRIORITY FOR 5 MINS UNTIL THE ACFT ON APCH LANDED.

Narrative: THIS PROB AROSE BY A LOCAL OPERATOR PARKING A B727 SO THAT IT BLOCKS A TXWY FROM THE GA TO OTHER TXWYS (3). IT REQUIRES THAT ALL ACFT TO OR FROM THE GA APRON MUST ENTER AND EXIT VIA AN ACTIVE RWY (RWY 24). THE ACFT PARKS W OF A DESIGNATED GATE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 2 TXWYS THAT COULD BE USED ARE BLOCKED BY THE B727 PREVENTING ACFT FROM EXITING THE GA APRON AND TAXIING BY RTES THAT DO NOT CONFLICT WITH RWW 6-24. ALL TFC TO OR FROM THE GA APRON MUST USE RWY 6-24 AND TXWY J ONLY. ON THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT, A G2 WAS ON APCH TO ILS RWY 28R. THE PLT REQUESTED CIRCLE RWY 24 DUE TO STRONG SW WINDS. SUBSEQUENTLY THE LIFEGUARD FLT REQUESTED TAXI FOR DEP. HE WAS ADVISED TO HOLD POS SINCE INSUFFICIENT TIME WAS LEFT TO LEAVE THE APRON, ENTER RWY 24, AND CLR BEFORE THE G2 ARRIVED. THE PLT THEN ASKED TO TAXI VIA TXWY C AND WAS DENIED SINCE TXWY H, THE ACCESS TO TXWY C, WAS CLOSED. THE PLT THEN ASKED FOR PRIORITY AND WAS AGAIN DENIED SINCE THE IFR G2 WAS ON SHORT FINAL TO RWY 24. THE G2 LANDED, ENTERED AT THE LONE TXWY AVAILABLE, THEN THE LIFEGUARD WAS TAXIED. TOTAL DELAY -- 5 MINS. HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED: CTLR IN THE TWR POINTED OUT THE CONFLICT AND POTENTIAL PROBS. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: NONE TAKEN. ALL RESPONSIBLE PERSONNEL ON THE ARPT KNOW ABOUT THE SIT. SOLUTION: MOVE THE ACFT TO GATE X IN FRONT OF THE TERMINAL. FREE UP TXWY H AND G, ELIMINATES TFC CONFLICTS, AND WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS DELAY TO A LIFEGUARD WITH A CRITICALLY ILL PERSON ON BOARD.

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.