B787 Dreamliner Undifferentiated or Other Model
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Company Policy; Human Factors; Manuals; Procedure
Need clarification on what the (MM) Maintenance Manual reads in Subject 11-XX-XX. Management's view the Safety Guide Person can also be on the Head Set walking along the aircraft as it is being towed in or out of the maintenance hangars. Item was a briefing item when I was out on surgery. The Mechanics and the Leads are bothered with the understanding of a Head Set person walking along the aircraft being towed. Mechanics and Leads view: That would be a 6th person added onto the minimum of 5 per MM 11-XX-XX. Managements view: The Safety Guide can be on the head set and walking along the aircraft being towed in or out of the hangar. When I asked Management for a clarification of the intent. The answer below was given:I have copied in the MM reference for your view regarding hangar movement. It will show you in 2(N) that personal electronic devises use during movement is prohibited. It will also show you in 3(B) that the tow team consist of at least 5 individuals required for hangar movement. If you are using a tail watch then that makes it at least 6 individuals. So; there is NO limit on maximum number of individuals involved in hangar movement. The briefing I gave last year was about person in charge will be the Safety Guide with the head set for positive communication since the use of cell phones is prohibited. Duties and responsibilities of the safety guide (b) states: Maintain safe position in view of the tractor operator and wing/tail walkers. So; basically the briefing was right out of the MM. We also require the Hangar Lead and Supervisor to be present during any hangar movement of the airplane. The Hangar Lead would be the best person to be the 'Safety Guide.'All the Mechanics and the Leads are also concerned with the duties of the head set person. The placement of the head set person and the agreement of the extra person 6th person from the Regional Managing Director per the MM 11-XX-XX. (It was also brought to my attention we had a death of a ramp person on a head set walking along the tractor pushing an aircraft out of gate in ZZZ. When they were both distracted the tractor driver ran over the Ramp Personnel's legs and she bleed to death on the ramp.) I understand the extra safety of a head set person should there be a tractor to aircraft break away. However; there are no verbiages to the extra person's function; and this might not be for all of [company] facilities; therefore requesting a local agreement of the extra person and their duties in writing.
Maintenance Technician expressed concern over company policy regarding duties of wing walkers during aircraft tow.