Date: 201205
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: PHL.Airport, PA
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Tower PHL
Second aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Local
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Ground
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Taxi
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: Aircraft X landed on Runway 35; and exited on high-speed Taxiway E3.  E3 connects Runway 35 to the parallel Taxiway; E. Taxiway F is adjacent to Taxiway E; and is used by arrivals exiting Runway 35 on E3 to access the ramp.  Each taxiway connecting to the ramp is designated with a spot for Ramp Control; and Taxiway F is spot 14.  Spot 14 is designated by the Ramp/Tower LOA as an inbound spot.  As Aircraft X landed; Aircraft Y was holding short of Runway 35 at Intersection K; a standard departure point; and was instructed to LUAW as Aircraft X rolled past.  As I was issuing exiting instructions to Aircraft X; I observed a CRJ taxiing out from the ramp on Taxiway F to Taxiway E. I instructed Aircraft X to turn left on E3; give way to the CRJ; and taxi via F to spot 14. As I issued this instruction; a second CRJ began to taxi on Taxiway F for Taxiway E. I visually observed Aircraft X exit the runway; and the aircraft appeared to be clear of the runway. I then issued a takeoff clearance to Aircraft Y. I looked again at Aircraft X; noticed that he was still waiting for the second CRJ; but that he did appear to be clear of the runway. As Aircraft Y passed behind Aircraft X; Aircraft X reported that he was not clear of the runway. The ASDE-X did not alarm. I passed this information to the Tower Supervisor; Aircraft X had not moved yet; and the Ground Controller and Crossing Coordinator concurred that the aircraft did appear to be clear. The departing aircraft offered no comment. A short time later; the pilot of Aircraft X called the OM. It is not uncommon for the ramp controllers to taxi departing aircraft out through arrival spots.  This should probably stop; especially at high-speed taxiways.  Also; this is not the first time I have seen pilots exit or cross a runway; stop; and then later claim that they were not clear of the runway.  If a pilot is crossing or exiting; comes to a complete stop and thinks they are not clear of the runway; they need to say something immediately.  I observed Aircraft X exit the runway and stop; he appeared to be clear.  But a question mark now hangs over the operation because the pilot reported that he was not clear as a departure flew behind him.


Second narrative: I was taxiing a CRJ aircraft out from the ramp on Taxiway E. Aircraft X was clearing the runway at Taxiway E3 and held for my taxiing aircraft. Aircraft Y was cleared for takeoff on Runway 35.  After Aircraft Y was airborne Aircraft X on E3 advised Local Control East that he was not all the way across the hold short line.  Have the aircraft that couldn't clear the runway let us know he couldn't clear the runway.


Synopsis: A flight crew and two controllers describe a takeoff with the preceding landing aircraft not entirely clear of the runway.