B737-800
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Maintenance Lead Technician 5; Maintenance Technician 17
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Company Policy; Human Factors; Equipment / Tooling
August 2014 I was made aware of our possible non-compliance with Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) procedures for grounding a/c for maintenance. I also questioned the state of the grounding points at the X and Y side Terminal in ZZZ. The only thing I have heard back to this point is that at some point fueling determined that grounding a/c to earth was not required during fueling operations and at that time the testing and marking of the earth grounds stopped in ZZZ. I was also notified that due to tire conductivity; grounding for other maintenance tasks was not required. Per 737 AMM 12-15-21 (Oxygen Servicing) Step F 2: 'make sure the airplane is grounded correctly (static grounding; Task 20-40-11)Per 737 AMM 20-40-11; 1.A (1): ' static grounding is not necessary if the airplane is parked for turnaround flight and no maintenance is to be done. Per 737 AMM 20-40-11; 1.A (3) lists maintenance tasks that require grounding. Per 737 AMM 20-40-11; 1(A).(4) 'when static grounding is recommended in a detailed procedure; the airplane must be statically grounded to a common; approved; identified ground or verified through conductive tires. The Note after that step tells you how to verify tire conductivity. Per these steps above; I believe [that] on the B737 a/c; the only time that it is permissible to not ground the a/c is during a fueling operation when the tire conductivity has been verified and when the a/c is parked for a turnaround and no maintenance is being done. Also per this section there are no approved earth grounds at the X or Y Terminal fingers at ZZZ for the B737 a/c because of the company disclosing that our [Static] grounds are no longer marked or tested; and the AMM calls for the a/c to be grounded to a common; approved; identified ground. Noncompliance issues.
Reporter stated the Static Grounding points for aircraft at the Terminal are maintained by the air carrier; not the Airport Facilities department. Mechanics believe their air carrier is placing them in a dangerous situation by not certifying (testing) and marking Static Grounding pins.  Especially since the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) requires static grounding of aircraft during certain types of Servicing. Instead; mechanics attempt to attach hard cables from the aircraft to old Static Grounding points at gate areas that are full of mud; sand and dirt in hopes of satisfying the AMM requirements. Reporter stated certain tires have an electrically conductive coating applied that acts as a static ground for the aircraft. But tire wear does affect coating conductivity; as does rain and sand.  That's why verifying tire conductivity becomes so important when static grounding is required prior to specific types of servicing.     Their air carrier Management continues to ignore their own written Procedures and Boeing Manual requirements.
A Lead Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) was informed of a possible non-compliance with Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) procedures involving Static grounding of aircraft to earth during maintenance. Lead Technician also notes the lack of approved; tested; certified and identifiable earth grounds at two Terminal fingers for B737 aircraft; may have contributed to the possible non-compliance issue.