In order to improve situational awareness for pilots of aircraft that are taxiing, the new San Carlos Airport Tower Chief, Allie Metcalf, announced a change in procedure in the way that the controllers handle arriving aircraft. 
In the past, the pilot of an aircraft that just landed would be instructed to “…Taxi to parking and MONITOR ground control 121.6.” During a recent meeting with airport users and the FAA, I suggested that San Carlos utilize the more common instruction, “…CONTACT ground control 121.6.” I pointed out that this would alert other pilots on the ground who might not know that another plane is coming their way. Also, this procedure more positively controls the airport movement areas, leading to a safer airport.
The suggested change has already been implemented and you should no longer hear the phrase “…monitor ground control 121.6” at San Carlos Airport.
Old habits die hard and many of us are accustomed to rolling off the runway and not stopping while we proceed to parking. We need to reacquaint ourselves with section 4 – 3 – 20 of the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM.) The title of this section is “Exiting the Runway After Landing” and in summary it states (in part) that the pilot of an aircraft that just landed should:
a. Exit the runway without delay at the first available taxiway (or on a taxiway directed by ATC);
b. Taxi clear of the runway unless otherwise directed by ATC–An aircraft is considered “clear of the runway” when all parts of the aircraft are past the runway edge markings (or here at SQL, the “hold short bars”, 
as we have no runway edge markings);
c. Once all parts of the aircraft are past the runway edge markings (hold short bars), the pilot must STOP until further instructions from ground control have been issued.
STOPPING after exiting the runway will need to become a new habit for those of us who became accustomed to the “continuous roll” under the old (and now obsolete) “…monitor ground control 121.6.”
AS A LOCAL VARIATION, APPLICABLE ONLY AT SAN CARLOS AIRPORT, OUR CONTROLLERS WOULD PREFER THAT AN AIRCRAFT CLEARING THE RUNWAY AND WAITING FOR FURTHER CLEARANCE FROM GROUND CONTROL TAXI PAST THE “HOLD SHORT” BARS AND FAR ENOUGH ONTO THE TAXIWAY TO ALLOW ANOTHER AIRCRAFT TO EXIT BEHIND THEM.
If you want to read the entire text of AIM 4-3-20, it can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/mgwx21 
Once at that page, search for the following text: 4-3-20. Exiting the Runway After Landing When reading this section, keep in mind that it was written so as to apply to ALL airports, not just those with operating control towers.
While on the subject of runways and taxiways at San Carlos Airport, now would be a good time to re-familiarize yourself with the new parallel taxiway designators identified as “Juliet”, “Kilo”, “Lima” and “Mike.” “Juliet” is the taxiway closest to the control tower with “Kilo”, “Lima” and “Mike” the designators for the taxiways moving progressively northeast away from the tower. You can find a graphic representation of the new taxiways on our web site: https://sancarlosairpo.wpenginepowered.com In addition, you can pick up a copy of the new taxiway diagram at the Airport Manager’s office.
