B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
I started my day shift work by being assigned Gates X and Y. After review of conditions I proceeded to walk to a B737 aircraft at Gate Y to physically check on the condition and status of the aircraft and it's logbook. Upon entering the aircraft I was witness seven ramp people in the cockpit and forward galley trying to apply electrical power to the aircraft that was sitting there without any electrical power supplied by either the APU or Ground Power. The ramp personnel were reconfiguring cockpit switches without success and were confused to say the least. I asked them what they were doing in the cockpit and why they were also checking the legal sign-off of the logbook. They said that they were being trained to move aircraft. This aircraft was due to leave within the hour on a live trip and our midnight maintenance crew had legally signed-off the airworthiness of this aircraft; only to have it tampered with by unskilled ramp personnel. A very unsafe condition existed by having this crew reconfigure the aircraft and it's logbook. The end result was that electrical power was turned on by them and unknown systems tampered with. Electrical power was removed and then selected 'On' during their time there. There was no communication from this group to me or our maintenance department for clearance to do this.  [Recommend to] Review the procedures that are changing at our Air Carrier with regard to allowing other non-licensed employees to have the ability to reconfigure an aircraft and it's systems without communicating with the Aircraft Technician and the associated Aircraft Maintenance department.
Reporter stated the Ramp Personnel in the cockpit were totally lost and reconfiguring the overhead electrical panel switches on the B737 aircraft; while trying to restore external power. Ramp Personnel are suppose to follow their Ramp Service Manual Checklist; but no one had that Checklist with them. When Maintenance works an aircraft; they 'flag' and 'tag' the system switches that are hot; but Ramp Personnel do not. They operate switches unannounced; even though they are not suppose to. As he noted in his report; the B737 was a live trip scheduled within the hour for departure and previously signed-off by the midnight shift Mechanic. When the ramp group saw the pilots walking around the aircraft; they immediately left the cockpit; none signed any paperwork indicating they had reconfigured the cockpit switches while trying to determine how to engage electrical power on the aircraft.Reporter stated his Maintenance Supervisor informed the flight crew of ramp's unannounced activities in the cockpit and for the flight crew to be extra cautious for any unusual switch positions or unexpected actuation of aircraft systems. The Maintenance Release of aircraft becomes compromised by uncertificated individuals operating switches without any sign-off accountability of their actions in the cockpit. If there is no record of ramp's activities in the cockpit and aircraft damage occurs due to control surface movement; will the Mechanic who performed an earlier walk-around be held accountable for missing aircraft damage; because he was the last person to sign-off a document?  Ramp Personnel are suppose to communicate with Maintenance before any training occurs in the aircraft; but many times that protocol is not followed.
A Technician reports witnessing Ramp Personnel in the cockpit and forward galley area trying to apply electrical power to a live B737 aircraft. They were very confused while reconfiguring cockpit switches without success. No paperwork was signed by any ramp person indicating their activities in the cockpit. Technician believes the Mechanic's sign-off and the Airworthiness Release was compromised.