Narrative:

MEL allows the cockpit door keypad to be MEL'd provided alternate procedures are established. Fom states that the keypad can be MEL'd and that no alternate procedures exist. I don't see how putting that statement in the fom complies with the MEL. The flight attendant manual lists a procedure for them to access the cockpit using the keypad in case of pilot incapacitation.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stressed that his primary reason for submitting the report was the issue of cabin attendant access in the event of a pilot incapacitation. He is concerned that a form of incapacitation that requires the well pilot to restrain the afflicted one from interfering with flight controls; for instance; would result in a situation in which appropriate crew could not access the flight deck. Secondarily; the clearly contradictory nature of the two regulatory documents requires resolution.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CAPTAIN BELIEVES ACR COMPANY OPERATIONS MANUAL AND A MEL PROCEDURE REGARDING COCKPIT DOOR ACCESS KEYPADS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE.

Narrative: MEL ALLOWS THE COCKPIT DOOR KEYPAD TO BE MEL'D PROVIDED ALTERNATE PROCEDURES ARE ESTABLISHED. FOM STATES THAT THE KEYPAD CAN BE MEL'D AND THAT NO ALTERNATE PROCEDURES EXIST. I DON'T SEE HOW PUTTING THAT STATEMENT IN THE FOM COMPLIES WITH THE MEL. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT MANUAL LISTS A PROCEDURE FOR THEM TO ACCESS THE COCKPIT USING THE KEYPAD IN CASE OF PILOT INCAPACITATION.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STRESSED THAT HIS PRIMARY REASON FOR SUBMITTING THE REPORT WAS THE ISSUE OF CABIN ATTENDANT ACCESS IN THE EVENT OF A PILOT INCAPACITATION. HE IS CONCERNED THAT A FORM OF INCAPACITATION THAT REQUIRES THE WELL PILOT TO RESTRAIN THE AFFLICTED ONE FROM INTERFERING WITH FLIGHT CONTROLS; FOR INSTANCE; WOULD RESULT IN A SITUATION IN WHICH APPROPRIATE CREW COULD NOT ACCESS THE FLIGHT DECK. SECONDARILY; THE CLEARLY CONTRADICTORY NATURE OF THE TWO REGULATORY DOCUMENTS REQUIRES RESOLUTION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.