Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
During walk around; First Officer noticed the fueler was absent from his position and nowhere to be seen as fuel was being pumped into the aircraft. The ground wire was on the ramp and not attached to the aircraft. This was an UNSAFE condition.Fueling Personnel follow SOP.
On First Officer's walk around; it was noted that a refueling hose was hooked up to the aircraft and was pumping fuel into it. The problem was no one was monitoring the refueling. No one was in sight. Furthermore the grounding cable was not connected to the aircraft. The First Officer looked for a supervisor to inform him of the problem. He found one and briefed him of the dangerous safety hazard this type of operation creates. The Supervisor more or less made excuses for his employee's actions. Hopefully he will be counseled on his poor adherence to procedures. That type of non-compliance with procedures while refueling aircraft could have disastrous consequences.
A B737 flight crew reported the First Officer noticed on his walk-around that the aircraft was being fueled with no one present and the grounding wire was also not attached.