Narrative:

Aircraft X called from the FBO ramp requesting taxi to runway 36; the active runway. I taxied the aircraft via bravo; bravo one and informed the pilot I had his clearance when he was ready. He said he was ready and I issued his IFR clearance. After receiving the clearance the pilot began to taxi. I observed the pilot pulling out of his parking spot and heading towards taxiway bravo. Once the pilot reached the middle of the FBO ramp he called me and informed me he did not know how to get to runway 36. The pilot was foreign and I realized and understood that he needed detailed instructions. I instructed the pilot to continue straight ahead to taxiway bravo and taxiway bravo was the taxiway directly in front of the FBO ramp; turn right on taxiway bravo and continue to the end of taxiway bravo then turn left on taxiway bravo one. The pilot responded with roger and thank you. I observed the pilot going on to bravo and turning right towards taxiway B1. I then went back to my scan and looked around the airspace; the d-brite; the terminal taxiways; my strips; I also answered a few banner tow aircraft and sight seeing helicopters that operate at myr per a LOA. During this process aircraft X called and stated that he 'thinks he is on the runway'; I saw his position and informed him he was on the runway and to continue southbound and turn right on B1; he said he would and said he was sorry for the mistake. There were no inbounds at the time so there was no danger in keeping an already confused pilot on his current course. There was no need for him to exit the runway at that time so I decided to just taxi him to B1 for the run up via runway 36. The pilot disregarded all hold short signs and taxiway location signs and entered the active runway without permission. At no time did I tell the pilot to cross [or] proceed on to the runway. The pilot's entry point to the active during the deviation was B2. In my opinion; the pilot went across bravo and joined bravo 2 which took him to the runway; he thought that the runway was bravo. Bravo 2 is a new taxiway and only opened 3 weeks ago. The airport diagram does not have B2 on it yet. My understanding is it will be in the new publications when they are published. There is a bravo 2 taxiway sign on taxiway B2. However there is no bravo sign near the middle of the GA ramp; these signs are at the ends of the GA ramp but most airplanes enter bravo from the middle of the GA ramp. There is a hold short line that separates the FBO from bravo which should indicated to a pilot that they are entering a movement area. I can not determine how the pilot could have made this mistake. A tour of the taxiways would give me a better understanding of what the pilot sees from the cockpit. I believe the an airport tour would help all of us understand why the pilot might get confused; there is a lot of construction going on the airport and has been the source of some pilot misunderstandings of the exact instructions from ATC. Although the pilot deviated from my step by step instructions; I should have watched him more closely; but again I was scanning my other areas and once I saw him on bravo; I thought he was on track. This situation has brought to light the danger in the taxiway bravo 2 additions without it being published. Until it is published; extra caution will be needed to ensure pilots understand the taxi route. Recommendation; airport and taxiway tour to see what the pilot sees. A bigger sign at the middle of the GA ramp to tell the pilot he is on bravo.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MYR Controller described a Runway 36 incursion event when a pilot taxiing for departure apparently used a new; still uncharted taxiway (Bravo 2); which led to a runway incursion; the reporter suggesting improved Taxiway B signage.

Narrative: Aircraft X called from the FBO ramp requesting taxi to Runway 36; the active runway. I taxied the aircraft via Bravo; Bravo One and informed the pilot I had his clearance when he was ready. He said he was ready and I issued his IFR clearance. After receiving the clearance the pilot began to taxi. I observed the pilot pulling out of his parking spot and heading towards Taxiway Bravo. Once the pilot reached the middle of the FBO ramp he called me and informed me he did not know how to get to Runway 36. The pilot was foreign and I realized and understood that he needed detailed instructions. I instructed the pilot to continue straight ahead to Taxiway Bravo and Taxiway Bravo was the taxiway directly in front of the FBO ramp; turn right on Taxiway Bravo and continue to the end of Taxiway Bravo then turn left on Taxiway Bravo One. The pilot responded with roger and thank you. I observed the pilot going on to Bravo and turning right towards Taxiway B1. I then went back to my scan and looked around the airspace; the D-Brite; the terminal taxiways; my strips; I also answered a few banner tow aircraft and sight seeing helicopters that operate at MYR per a LOA. During this process Aircraft X called and stated that he 'thinks he is on the runway'; I saw his position and informed him he was on the runway and to continue southbound and turn right on B1; he said he would and said he was sorry for the mistake. There were no inbounds at the time so there was no danger in keeping an already confused pilot on his current course. There was no need for him to exit the runway at that time so I decided to just taxi him to B1 for the run up via Runway 36. The pilot disregarded all hold short signs and taxiway location signs and entered the active runway without permission. At no time did I tell the pilot to cross [or] proceed on to the runway. The pilot's entry point to the active during the deviation was B2. In my opinion; the pilot went across Bravo and joined Bravo 2 which took him to the runway; he thought that the runway was Bravo. Bravo 2 is a new taxiway and only opened 3 weeks ago. The airport diagram does not have B2 on it yet. My understanding is it will be in the new publications when they are published. There is a Bravo 2 taxiway sign on Taxiway B2. However there is no Bravo sign near the middle of the GA ramp; these signs are at the ends of the GA ramp but most airplanes enter Bravo from the middle of the GA ramp. There is a hold short line that separates the FBO from Bravo which should indicated to a pilot that they are entering a movement area. I can not determine how the pilot could have made this mistake. A tour of the taxiways would give me a better understanding of what the pilot sees from the cockpit. I believe the an airport tour would help all of us understand why the pilot might get confused; there is a lot of construction going on the airport and has been the source of some pilot misunderstandings of the exact instructions from ATC. Although the pilot deviated from my step by step instructions; I should have watched him more closely; but again I was scanning my other areas and once I saw him on Bravo; I thought he was on track. This situation has brought to light the danger in the Taxiway Bravo 2 additions without it being published. Until it is published; extra caution will be needed to ensure pilots understand the taxi route. Recommendation; airport and taxiway tour to see what the pilot sees. A bigger sign at the middle of the GA ramp to tell the pilot he is on Bravo.

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.