Pilots Union conjures New Policy When the electrical gremlins strike.

Pilots Union conjures New Policy

When the electrical gremlins strike, circuit breakers should not be reset In fact, this non-procedure should be made a matter of industry-wide policy.

In a Feb 18 note to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the nation's largest pilots union, argues that a single, clear policy for the industry is distressed After coordinating with carriers, manufacturers and other organizations, ALPA has produc hinted language for a policy epistle the FAA could issue forward resetting tripped circuit breakers. The last FAA guidance upon the subject was in an advisory circular issued nine years ago. Given the aphorism that "power supplys a fire," the resetting of circuit breakers can potentially worsen the potential for a catastrophic in-flight electrical fire.

The ALPA literal sense cited numerous Service Difficulty Reports (SDR's) where flight gangs reset popped breakers and emptiness sparks and burned wiring resulted

According to the literal sense signed by Capt. Paul McCarthy, ALPA's executive air safety chairman, in every one's mouth circuit breaker reset policies have been evolveed independently over the years, leading to wide variance in proceedings for handling tripped breakers. "Most pilots are taught that the 'proper' way to reset a circuit breaker is to allow a cooling period, generally 1-3 minutes, then reset the breaker. In fact, tripped circuit breakers have reach [i]or[/i] attain any place [i]or[/i] point to be viewed by pilots as a relatively benign, if not usual occurrence. This then reinforced the belief that resetting circuit breakers, on a level multiple times, is a safe procedure" McCarthy wrote

A recently made known policy statement is needed, McCarthy urg emphasizing "the potential hazard at handed by resetting a tripped circuit breaker." Since each situation cannot be anticipated, the pilot in command should have one discretionary authority on the matter.

In addition to updating the cockpit policy for resetting breakers, ALPA also propos that each circuit breaker trip should trigger a mandatory logbook ingress to include the conditions when the trip occurr This practice would assist maintenance personnel who many times find they cannot duplicate the situation one time the airplane is on the ground

The FAA has not to this time responded to the ALPA recommendation. >> cloyed text of the ALPA verbal expression and attachments may be raise in the "Breaking News" area of our website: http://www.aviationtoday.com <<

The Risk of Resetting Circuit Breakers

The commited policy: Don't reset

Source: Feb 18 2000 literal meaning to FAA

"There is an inherent danger in resetting a tripped circuit breaker. A tripped circuit breaker is a signal that something is probably unjust in the circuit. Unit it is ascertained what has caused the trip to take place, the set has no way of knowing the hazards of resetting the circuit breaker.

The ignition of a fire is a real possibility. Therefore, a tripped circuit breaker should not be reset in flight, unles in the common-sense of the captain, it is necessary for the safe completion of the flight.

sod resets should only be accomplished after maintenance has ascertained the reason for the trip and there is no danger. After any tripped circuit breaker reset maintenance personnel shall insure the malfunction and following resetting does not result in a hazard to safe flight."

The existing policy: Reset once

Source: FAA Advisory Circular 25-61

"Each successive attempt to restore an automatically disconnected power source, or the resetting of an automatically disconnected CPD (circuit protection device) can eventuate in progressively worse effects..."

"...the party should make only one attempt to restore an automaticallydisconnected power source or reset or replace an automatically-disconnected CPD that affects flight operations or safety."

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