Narrative:

An ILS approach into jfk was being conducted to runway 22L during night VMC with the first officer flying. Runway exit was briefed as taxiway J high speed to hold short runway 22R. First officer was not aggressive enough in stopping to make the high speed taxiway J as briefed and subsequently rolled to the end of runway 22L requiring an unusual roundabout taxi flow onto taxiway Z; with a switch back onto runway 31L briefly followed by an exit onto taxiway Z north of runway 31L to rejoin taxiway J. I took the aircraft and exited the runway to the right at the end of runway 22L and was immediately faced with an illuminated flashing yellow bar. I asked ground to confirm we were cleared to cross it onto runway 31L for taxi and he responded to the affirmative. As we crossed the light bar; I was unable to immediately acquire the 'switchback' onto taxiway Z to my right due to the intensity of the flashing yellow lights impacting my night vision and the signs being obscured by snow drifts. I hesitated as we entered the runway 31L approach threshold and asked tower for help. The tower controller immediately changed the game plan and directed us to taxi west on runway 31L and exit with a right on taxiway K. Aircraft were departing runway 31L from taxiway kk downfield of us; so there was no immediate traffic conflict with the new instructions and we indeed had clearance already across runway 31L. The point of this report is to emphasize the taxiway signs for this route are really designed for aircraft taxiing out for departure full length runway 31L via taxiway Z -- not the reverse which we were attempting at night. There is also a bit of an elevation increase cresting on runway 31L from runway 22L exit point which gives the appearance of a 'black hole' in the direction of taxiway Z as you look off to the right to acquire it as you cross runway 31L. The combination of the bright flashing yellow lights and snow drifts makes it extremely difficult to acquire the taxiway Z exit north of runway 31L. Even after pausing prior to the stop bar to review my airfield diagram to verify the taxi route; neither the first officer nor myself could immediately acquire what we knew to be there (also note: from the captain's seat the orientation puts the taxiway Z exit directly behind the canopy bow on the first officer's side of the wind screen further complicating visual acquisition of the continuation of taxiway Z north of runway 31L). Perhaps an illuminated taxiway sign showing the exit as more of a 45 degree turn would help and especially one immediately north of runway 31L further reinforcing the exit from runway 31L northbound onto taxiway Z. I do not recall any 'in pavement' taxiway lights being illuminated leading the way; but those would certainly help identify the taxiway more readily. Bottom line lesson for me is to make the briefed exit at taxiway J from runway 22L so as to avoid this somewhat confusing taxi route.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 Captain reports difficulty following Taxiway Z from south end of Runway 22L due to night conditions and snow drifts.

Narrative: An ILS approach into JFK was being conducted to Runway 22L during night VMC with the First Officer flying. Runway exit was briefed as Taxiway J high speed to hold short Runway 22R. First Officer was not aggressive enough in stopping to make the high speed Taxiway J as briefed and subsequently rolled to the end of Runway 22L requiring an unusual roundabout taxi flow onto Taxiway Z; with a switch back onto Runway 31L briefly followed by an exit onto Taxiway Z north of Runway 31L to rejoin Taxiway J. I took the aircraft and exited the runway to the right at the end of Runway 22L and was immediately faced with an illuminated flashing yellow bar. I asked ground to confirm we were cleared to cross it onto Runway 31L for taxi and he responded to the affirmative. As we crossed the light bar; I was unable to immediately acquire the 'switchback' onto Taxiway Z to my right due to the intensity of the flashing yellow lights impacting my night vision and the signs being obscured by snow drifts. I hesitated as we entered the Runway 31L approach threshold and asked Tower for help. The Tower Controller immediately changed the game plan and directed us to taxi west on Runway 31L and exit with a right on Taxiway K. Aircraft were departing Runway 31L from Taxiway KK downfield of us; so there was no immediate traffic conflict with the new instructions and we indeed had clearance already across Runway 31L. The point of this report is to emphasize the taxiway signs for this route are really designed for aircraft taxiing out for departure full length Runway 31L via Taxiway Z -- not the reverse which we were attempting at night. There is also a bit of an elevation increase cresting on Runway 31L from Runway 22L exit point which gives the appearance of a 'black hole' in the direction of Taxiway Z as you look off to the right to acquire it as you cross Runway 31L. The combination of the bright flashing yellow lights and snow drifts makes it extremely difficult to acquire the Taxiway Z exit north of Runway 31L. Even after pausing prior to the stop bar to review my airfield diagram to verify the taxi route; neither the First Officer nor myself could immediately acquire what we knew to be there (also note: from the Captain's seat the orientation puts the Taxiway Z exit directly behind the canopy bow on the First Officer's side of the wind screen further complicating visual acquisition of the continuation of Taxiway Z north of Runway 31L). Perhaps an illuminated taxiway sign showing the exit as more of a 45 degree turn would help and especially one immediately north of Runway 31L further reinforcing the exit from Runway 31L northbound onto Taxiway Z. I do not recall any 'in pavement' taxiway lights being illuminated leading the way; but those would certainly help identify the taxiway more readily. Bottom line lesson for me is to make the briefed exit at Taxiway J from Runway 22L so as to avoid this somewhat confusing taxi route.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.