EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Procedure
I was approached by a Ramp Service Employee today who had a safety concern regarding air start procedures. The employee stated on a few occasions he and his crew had connected an air start to an E170 aircraft. They positioned the air start on the aircraft right (engine #2). The pilot then proceeded to start engine number 2. This scenario would cause the agent to walk very close to the running engine to disconnect the hose. They asked the captain to turn the engine off which he did.I looked through the Operations Manual and could not find anything indicating a specific side of the aircraft to position the Pneumatic air start. I also did not find which engine is recommended to be started first. The only thing I could find stated the Pneumatic air start should be positioned in a way that it is visible to the flight crew. If this is the case then it is possible the flight crew did not look to see where the pneumatic air start was poisoned or ramp crew failed to communicate with flight crew.
The procedure(s) as to where to position a ground air start unit on an Embraer 170 are not defined clearly. The procedures which engine to start first is also not defined.