A321
Dispatch Dispatcher
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure; Company Policy
During Flight at cruise from ZZZ to ZZZ1; I noticed on my screen printer that NEF (Non-essential Equipment Furnishings) 33-XX had been applied to Aircraft X. This was only applied during flight and therefore not on the release and also not on the ACARS to amend to the release. I recorded the screen printer messages in the record history at [time]; approximately the same time that I noticed it to be added in the system. I contacted [Maintenance Control] and they informed me of a new procedure where Line Maintenance has the ability to add certain NEF items without communication with [Maintenance Control] entirely. The maintenance employee in ZZZ added this NEF during flight and gave me no option to add it to a release or send it to the crew to amend the flight release.The cause is ZZZ Maintenance not [entering] in the system quick enough. [I suggest] better communication between [Maintenance Control] and Line Maintenance in our hubs to make sure NEFs are added in time for Dispatch to add them either through ACARS or a new revision to a release to keep the flight legal. I suggest removing this new procedure for Line Maintenance adding NEFs and give the sole responsibility to [Maintenance Control].
Dispatcher reported being out of the loop when Maintenance added a non-essential maintenance note to an aircraft in-flight.