A320
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Maintenance Technician 31
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Contract Technician was called to the gate at ZZZ for panel not installed on Forward Cargo Bulkhead. Technician inspected area and reinstalled self-locking fasteners on panel. Technician returned to FBO and called Air Carrier X Maintenance Control. Air Carrier X Maintenance Control verbally gave Technician the cargo panel install reference and the offer of a fax or e-mail hard copy was never made.  The Technician made the Logbook entry with the verbal reference and returned to the gate. Upon exiting the vehicle; the Technician was met by an FAA Air Carrier PMI Maintenance Inspector. The Inspector asked the Technician where and how he had received the reference for the work performed. Upon answering; the FAA Inspector asked the Technician; if that was a good idea; not to read the Airbus Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) reference for himself. The Technician responded that it was not a good idea and returned to the FBO for an actual copy. Air Carrier X's policy is to not allow Contractor Maintenance to have direct Airbus manual access. The Technician has constantly encountered the problem of requesting AMM / General Maintenance Manual (GMM) hard copies before performing maintenance actions. This problem has been brought up several times by the Technician to Air Carrier X's Maintenance Control and to his superiors; including his Lead and Director of Maintenance (DOM). Proper access to Airbus and Air Carrier manuals has caused Contract Maintenance compliancy [issues]. The Contract Maintenance personnel would also like the ability to research any questions they may have while performing their duties.
A Contract Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) reports about the constant problem of having to request Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) and General Manual (GM) hard copies prior to performing maintenance actions on an Air Carrier's aircraft.