Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
MEL; Human Factors; Aircraft; Procedure
This flight is this inbound flight of an out and back trip. The MEL 29-24-01 was still in effect during this flight and as on the previous leg I could not complete a preflight alternate brake check accumulator check or confirm good pressure with the parking brake set. The same agencies were contacted and consulted with again and the information given to me was that the MX Check done by MX covered for my checks. No reference or procedure for crew in MEL 29-24-01. As before I made sure chocks and tug in place to back up parking brake until an engine was started. Incomplete MEL procedures led the crew to seek info and advice from other sources.
Leg #2 dispatched with Mel 29-24-01 Yellow system electric pump inop. Again; unable to verify brake accumulator pressure during Captains pre-flight check and on before start checklist due to MEL procedure causing brake accumulator pressure to be low/ inadequate. There was no guidance in (o) or (m) procedures for this MEL that addressed this. When the Captain asked the AMT about this; he said that the accumulator was good. More importantly; there are no alternate procedures for pushback to ensure both the normal & alternate brake systems are adequately pressurized. We did not have any problems with pushback or brakes during leg 2. Flight was uneventful.I believe the Mel procedure was inadequate in that it doesn't address maintenance's check being used instead of the Captain's pre-flight requirement to check the alternate brake system as well as; the pressure check on the before start checklist. There are no (o) procedures to tell crew how to properly check alternate brakes system and pressure on before start checklist. Additionally; it doesn't address alternate pushback procedures with this item deferred. There needs to be (m) and (o) alternate pushback procedures.
A300 Flight Crew is dispatched with MEL 29-24-01 for an inoperative Yellow electric pump. The MEL does not allow the Captain to check the Yellow system/accumulator pressure prior to engine start nor does the MEL require maintenance to perform the check. The reporters believe that both the MEL and the push back procedures need to be modified to accommodate this MEL.