Narrative:

Both aircraft called for taxi from spot 5; a new procedure at cle; I issued taxi instructions which would have kept them in trail. When I observed them one was on a taxiway J and one was on the ramp going to spot 5 side by side. I had to assert which was which and issue additional instructions. I asked the pilot about the new procedure and he wasn't sure. An unsatisfactory condition report has been filed about this procedure. It has not been published; the spots (1-6) are not marked on the ramp and the procedure has created other safety issues. Users and airport management agreed to this and ATC is still being briefed. This is a hazard and could pose several safety issues. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the new taxi procedures for the ramp area were put into effect prior to the 'hold areas' (spots) being painted on the ramp surface. He had to direct aircraft around the ramp area in order to prevent a conflict or collision. Normally flight crews are cleared to a spot and receive their taxi instructions while holding at the spot. He felt that it was a major safety problem. Subsequently; the 'holding areas' (spots) have been painted and the procedures are clear to the flight crews.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC GND CTLR CONCERNED WITH NEW TAXI PROCS AND HOLDING AREAS AT CLE.

Narrative: BOTH ACFT CALLED FOR TAXI FROM SPOT 5; A NEW PROC AT CLE; I ISSUED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS WHICH WOULD HAVE KEPT THEM IN TRAIL. WHEN I OBSERVED THEM ONE WAS ON A TXWY J AND ONE WAS ON THE RAMP GOING TO SPOT 5 SIDE BY SIDE. I HAD TO ASSERT WHICH WAS WHICH AND ISSUE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS. I ASKED THE PLT ABOUT THE NEW PROC AND HE WASN'T SURE. AN UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION RPT HAS BEEN FILED ABOUT THIS PROC. IT HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED; THE SPOTS (1-6) ARE NOT MARKED ON THE RAMP AND THE PROC HAS CREATED OTHER SAFETY ISSUES. USERS AND ARPT MGMNT AGREED TO THIS AND ATC IS STILL BEING BRIEFED. THIS IS A HAZARD AND COULD POSE SEVERAL SAFETY ISSUES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE NEW TAXI PROCS FOR THE RAMP AREA WERE PUT INTO EFFECT PRIOR TO THE 'HOLD AREAS' (SPOTS) BEING PAINTED ON THE RAMP SURFACE. HE HAD TO DIRECT ACFT AROUND THE RAMP AREA IN ORDER TO PREVENT A CONFLICT OR COLLISION. NORMALLY FLT CREWS ARE CLRED TO A SPOT AND RECEIVE THEIR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS WHILE HOLDING AT THE SPOT. HE FELT THAT IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY PROB. SUBSEQUENTLY; THE 'HOLDING AREAS' (SPOTS) HAVE BEEN PAINTED AND THE PROCS ARE CLR TO THE FLT CREWS.

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.