Commercial Fixed Wing
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Procedure
I was scheduled to meet a flight at IAD Gate XX. It was coming in late. The plane landed during a thunderstorm and the ramp was closed. The plane was sitting on the tarmac at the line waiting for the ramp to guide it in. I was called at the gate and instructed that the ramper was in a truck and was going to bring the plane in and then when it was parked I was to put the jet bridge up to the aircraft. I questioned the zone control if the ramp guys in the truck were going to chock the nose wheel before I approached the plane. He said yes. When the plane was parked; the ramp guy motioned for me to go to the plane. I motioned for him to chock the tires and he just waved and then started to drive away. Zone called and told me that the pilot had set the brake and to put the jet bridge on the airplane. I told him again that SOP was for the wheel to be chocked. The supervisor came to the jet bridge and told me to put it on the airplane. I told him if he was giving me a direct order; I would do it; but would not be responsible for any damage that was to occur from the wheels not being chocked. I was told by the area manager that this was SOP during weather. Calls were made confirm this and he was told that we do not do this. We also asked two different jet bridge trainers and they said we do not go to the plane until the wheels are chocked. Another issue is that the ramper had the chocks between the plane and the jet way and if they were driven over; it could cause the jet bridge to hit the plane while driving to it.
Jet Bridge Operator at IAD reported being ordered to place the jet bridge on an aircraft that was not chocked in accordance with Standard Operating Procedure.