Dispatch Dispatcher
Training / Qualification; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Company Policy; MEL; Procedure; Human Factors
MEL 28-21-03-B center tank pumps-inop. MEL advises that fuel increase of 1.0% OVB; fuel in trim tank no more than 4;400 lb and unusable part of ZFW (This was ADZ to ramp). The MEL does not state in any area that in order for RA (Gate Agent) to be able to enter the numbers in weight and balance (W/B); they need to put an 'x' next to the inop pump or the fact that if it is only 1 pump; they still have to mark both inop in order for the center tank fuel to show as ballast/MEL.The agent did not advise dispatch that they had fuel in the center tank that would affect the W/B. They could not get the center tank fuel to populate in the ballast/center tank. It wasn't until another dispatcher heard the issue and advised he had had this same issue a few weeks ago; had to write an ASAP. I was advised to instruct the crew to have RA put an 'x' next to both center pumps; which I relayed to the Captain over the phone.RA was able to get the fuel entered in W/B and Captain and I discussed the MEL and operations #2. Make sure applicable tank(s) (center; act; and/or trim tank) fuel quantity is accounted for in release as MEL penalty fuel and that the fuel total figure is correct. This was accomplished and both dispatcher and Captain were comfortable with all fuel numbers. Center tanks were not showing checked inop on the W/B on all previous flight legs. Could this be because there was no fuel in these tanks? Do the pumps have to [have] 'x' even if there is a small amount or no fuel in the tanks?The MEL should be changed to show the RA needs to mark not just (1) but (2) center tank pumps inop; in order to get the MEL to show correct fuel numbers on W/B. This MEL shows nowhere that the pump is to [be] marked with an 'x' as inop. No mention of this in the MEL; Mx scratch pad or placard. Until the MEL can be revised; a **note** should be either in the mx scratch pad or placard; or both to reflect this procedure. Mx should have to advise Ops ASAP as to how much fuel is trapped in the tanks.
A/C had both Center Pumps on MEL and required 4000 lbs penalty fuel. We fueled the a/c; including penalty fuel. A/C took 1 hr delay due to fuel not reflecting on the W/B as MEL fuel and the crew not taking the a/c. The ramp tried multiple times to get the fuel to show on the release and could not make it happen. The ramp and crew somehow came to an agreement and the a/c departed. About 1 hr later; we were asked to come to the ramp office. We were told that Ops had decided this was a Mx delay; probably Engineering and that's how they were going to code the delay. They said that the a/c had probably been flying illegal due to the way the Releases has been printing and not showing the unusable fuel.
Airbus A300 had a fuel center tank pump MEL deferral; but ramp personnel and Dispatch had difficulty getting the weight and balance computer to accept the MEL fuel correctly.