Bwi controller described a 'false' asde-X alarm involving a runway 33L landing and a non-existing ta...

Narrative:

An E190 was landing runway 33L when a false target was observed at one of the intersections of 33L. As the E190 rolled through the false target; the target disappeared. The E190 completed his landing roll out and was instructed to exit the runway at foxtrot and join papa and contact ground. The aircraft was observed clear of the runway and was moving slowly to pass behind an aircraft southbound on papa taxiway. A B737 landed runway 33L and as the aircraft touched down the asde-X alerted that the runway was occupied; even though the previous aircraft was observed off of the runway both visually and on the asde-X. I would recommend that the asde-X equipment be eliminated as it is unreliable. Here at bwi we have many false alerts take place and many false targets show up and disappear on the ground radar. If this is not an option; than the parameters of the asde-X need to be checked so that false alerts such as this one do not happen.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BWI Controller described a 'false' ASDE-X alarm involving a Runway 33L landing and a non-existing target at a runway intersection; the reporter suggesting either refinement of the ASDE-X parameters or discontinuing use of the equipment.

Narrative: An E190 was landing Runway 33L when a false target was observed at one of the intersections of 33L. As the E190 rolled through the false target; the target disappeared. The E190 completed his landing roll out and was instructed to exit the runway at Foxtrot and join Papa and contact Ground. The aircraft was observed clear of the runway and was moving slowly to pass behind an aircraft southbound on Papa Taxiway. A B737 landed Runway 33L and as the aircraft touched down the ASDE-X alerted that the runway was occupied; even though the previous aircraft was observed off of the runway both visually and on the ASDE-X. I would recommend that the ASDE-X equipment be eliminated as it is unreliable. Here at BWI we have many false alerts take place and many false targets show up and disappear on the ground RADAR. If this is not an option; than the parameters of the ASDE-X need to be checked so that false alerts such as this one do not happen.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1027386
Time
Date	201208
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	BWI.Airport
State Reference	MD
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 190/195 ER/LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Landing
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

Bwi controller described a 'false' asde-X alarm involving a runway 33L landing and a non-existing target at a runway intersection; the reporter suggesting either refinement of the asde-X parameters or discontinuing use of the equipment.