Commercial Fixed Wing
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Procedure; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part; Company Policy; Airport; Aircraft; Human Factors
The Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) requires that all aircraft prior to jacking for tire or brake changes have to verify that they are properly grounded. We have nine overnight aircraft that require Heavy Maintenance and four of them are at the gate that do have approved grounding points. The other five on the maintenance hardstand do not. ZZZ has no approved grounding points on any of their maintenance hardstands. Company Air Carrier has in the AMM to verify Electrostatic Grounding through the tires by using a bonding meter. The problem with that is they suggest since we have no approved grounding points out on the maintenance hardstand; that we should just stick one of the [grounding] leads to the ground. That does not work because it does not give a proper ground. Sticking the lead to the ground does not allow the meter to give the 'less than' one Megohms reading required to be sufficient to verify that the aircraft is being grounded through the tires for aircraft jacking. The next suggestion to fix this is to pour a cup of water on the Ramp and then stick the lead into the water puddle. I feel that is an unsafe operation because one of our Mechanic's already got shocked while trying to perform this procedure. We have a 40% chance of rain tonight and using a bonding meter out there on the Ramp just isn't a safe condition. Contact Airport authorities to install approved grounding point at all the locations where aircraft Maintenance has to be performed so the aircraft Technician can do the maintenance as prescribed in the AMM. Lead Mechanic.
A Lead Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) reports about the lack of approved Electrostatic Grounding points for aircraft at their airport Terminal gates and Maintenance hardstands. Maintenance procedures require aircraft to be properly grounded prior to jacking aircraft to safely perform tire and brake changes.