Air carrier flight crew reported confusion at a taxiway intersection based upon a mismatch between what was visually seen and the chart depiction; exacerbated by a lack of signage. Ground Control helped provide assistance and the flight continued taxiing to the runway.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported confusion at a taxiway intersection based upon a mismatch between what was visually seen and the chart depiction; exacerbated by a lack of signage. Ground Control helped provide assistance and the flight continued taxiing to the runway.
Narrative
To be clear; I am filing this report at the request of the ORD Ground Controller. ORD Ground stated there was no issue or violation against us. However; they requested that we file this incident presumably to raise awareness. During taxi we were given instructions to taxi to Runway 22L via U; B; V. As I taxied the aircraft and entered the U/B intersection I stopped the aircraft before I committed to making the left turn onto B. I stopped because my mental picture; the airport diagram; and what I was physically looking at did not match. When on U taxiway the turn angle to B looked much larger than depicted on the chart. There is no B taxiway sign at that intersection which added to the confusion. Since I became unsure of when to turn I stopped the aircraft and asked my First Officer to clarify the taxi instruction with Ground Control. As I stopped; Ground Control called us and said; Make that left turn there if you can." I made the turn then continued taxiing to Runway 22L. Ground then asked us if we could file a report about it. He stated we were OK and there were no issues with us; just asked we file a report - presumably to highlight the ambiguity and difficulty of navigating that intersection. Again; based on my displayed chart; my expectation and what I was seeing; plus lack of taxiway signage; it led to a situation where I stopped the aircraft and needed clarification from Ground Control on where B taxiway was. That intersection is VERY confusing when taking into consideration how it looks on the chart; what it looks like in person; and not having adequate taxiway markings/signs."
Second reporter narrative
This report submission was requested by the Ground Controller on taxi. He said something like 'you are not in trouble; but we'd like you to do your safety thing so we have a record of the issue.' We held short of Taxiway U on exiting the ramp. We were provided instructions to taxi via U; B; V. As we taxied past U to join B; the Captain stopped the aircraft on B because there was no signage; and we wanted to be clear that we were turning onto the correct taxiway. ATC noticed we were stopped on B; informed us to turn left onto B if we were still able to - which we were able to - and then asked us to file a report. The rest of the taxi to 22L was uneventful. Upon returning to ORD in the jumpseat of my commute home; we passed the same intersection where I confirmed no sign existed indicating or guiding aircraft onto Taxiway B from CS past U.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.