Narrative:

This is a non specific report for the approximately time runway 30R/12L became a taxiway. We did not receive any NOTAMS for the closure until after the fact. During the course of the day; air carrier X taxied to runway 30L instead of back-taxiing on runway 30R. They had to make a 180 degree turn back to the closed runway. Several aircraft taxied on the closed taxiway Y due to lack of barricades. Air carrier Y stated that 'taxiway 30R' had no lighting after dark; and air carrier Z said that from the air you could not tell that runway 30R was not a runway. We have been instructed to call it 'taxiway 30R' now rather than 'runway 30R' which confuses pilots. There are supposed to be reflectors; but pilots have reported that they observe no lighting or reflector after dark. The runway is marked with large X's and the words 'taxi only' in yellow paint. The hold short bars have not been removed and the signage still indicates a runway rather than a taxiway. The runway will eventually re-open; therefore; it does not seem appropriate to call it a taxiway now. In the interest of safety; I would like to see the procedure changed so that controllers may use standard phraseology for the runway. It should still be called a runway even if used only for taxi and the phase 'back taxi' should be appropriate. I would like to see the runway signs covered and taxiway signs implemented. If it still looks like a runway we should call it as such. The signage needs to be addressed. Airport operations asked us to turn on the runway lights so the signs would be illuminated; however; these are runway signs; not taxiway signs. Much better reflectors or some sort of lighting is needed for nighttime.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TWR CTLR IS CONCERNED THAT TEMPORARY SIGNAGE AND LIGHTING IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR RWY 30R-12L AT SJC; WHICH IS BEING USED FOR A TXWY DURING CONSTRUCTION REPAIR OF TXWY Y.

Narrative: THIS IS A NON SPECIFIC RPT FOR THE APPROX TIME RWY 30R/12L BECAME A TXWY. WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTAMS FOR THE CLOSURE UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY; ACR X TAXIED TO RWY 30L INSTEAD OF BACK-TAXIING ON RWY 30R. THEY HAD TO MAKE A 180 DEG TURN BACK TO THE CLOSED RWY. SEVERAL ACFT TAXIED ON THE CLOSED TXWY Y DUE TO LACK OF BARRICADES. ACR Y STATED THAT 'TXWY 30R' HAD NO LIGHTING AFTER DARK; AND ACR Z SAID THAT FROM THE AIR YOU COULD NOT TELL THAT RWY 30R WAS NOT A RWY. WE HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO CALL IT 'TXWY 30R' NOW RATHER THAN 'RWY 30R' WHICH CONFUSES PLTS. THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REFLECTORS; BUT PLTS HAVE RPTED THAT THEY OBSERVE NO LIGHTING OR REFLECTOR AFTER DARK. THE RWY IS MARKED WITH LARGE X'S AND THE WORDS 'TAXI ONLY' IN YELLOW PAINT. THE HOLD SHORT BARS HAVE NOT BEEN REMOVED AND THE SIGNAGE STILL INDICATES A RWY RATHER THAN A TXWY. THE RWY WILL EVENTUALLY RE-OPEN; THEREFORE; IT DOES NOT SEEM APPROPRIATE TO CALL IT A TXWY NOW. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY; I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROC CHANGED SO THAT CTLRS MAY USE STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY FOR THE RWY. IT SHOULD STILL BE CALLED A RWY EVEN IF USED ONLY FOR TAXI AND THE PHASE 'BACK TAXI' SHOULD BE APPROPRIATE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RWY SIGNS COVERED AND TXWY SIGNS IMPLEMENTED. IF IT STILL LOOKS LIKE A RWY WE SHOULD CALL IT AS SUCH. THE SIGNAGE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. ARPT OPS ASKED US TO TURN ON THE RWY LIGHTS SO THE SIGNS WOULD BE ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER; THESE ARE RWY SIGNS; NOT TXWY SIGNS. MUCH BETTER REFLECTORS OR SOME SORT OF LIGHTING IS NEEDED FOR NIGHTTIME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.