Tower controller described an asde-X alarm when uncoordinated helicopter traffic passed in front of ...

Attributes
ACN	1075879
Time
Date	201303
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Citation Excel (C560XL)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

A citation excel was on departure roll. I overheard local control 3 clear a helicopter for departure off the non movement area just west of the departure end of runway xxr. I then noticed the helicopter lift and head toward the tower in front of the departing citation. The asde-X alarmed for occupied runway. I asked the citation if he had the helicopter in sight and an affirmative reply was given. I then switched the aircraft to departure. It appeared the helicopter crossed with mere feet of lateral/vertical seperation. I'm not sure what instructions were given to the helicopter on departure. I would recommend the helicopter controller to have aircraft stay away from active runways until seperation can be obtained then give routing instructions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller described an ASDE-X alarm when uncoordinated helicopter traffic passed in front of a departing Citation; failed internal Tower coordination was listed as the causal factor.

Narrative: A Citation Excel was on departure roll. I overheard Local Control 3 clear a helicopter for departure off the non movement area just west of the departure end of Runway XXR. I then noticed the helicopter lift and head toward the Tower in front of the departing Citation. The ASDE-X alarmed for occupied runway. I asked the Citation if he had the helicopter in sight and an affirmative reply was given. I then switched the aircraft to Departure. It appeared the helicopter crossed with mere feet of lateral/vertical seperation. I'm not sure what instructions were given to the helicopter on departure. I would recommend the helicopter Controller to have aircraft stay away from active runways until seperation can be obtained then give routing instructions.

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.

Tower controller described an asde-X alarm when uncoordinated helicopter traffic passed in front of a departing citation; failed internal tower coordination was listed as the causal factor.