 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
A320 captain reports that the MEL no longer requires operational wing illumination lights for dispatch and does not agree with far 121.341b that seems to require them.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 860042 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200911 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | A319 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Ice Inspection Light |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 184 Flight Crew Total 16460 Flight Crew Type 4654 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types |
Narrative:
I am curious how my air carrier received relief for inoperative 'wing scan illumination lights' for dispatch. Far part 121.341 paragraph (b) is clear on the requirement for wing illumination. The mmel section 2; or operations placard now states 'no operational restrictions'. The wing scan illumination light does not illuminate the top surface of the wing and is not required or effective for wing visual inspections. Maintenance control mentioned the MEL had been recently revised. The wing scan light does illuminate the wing and I have used it on occasion during the winter to inspect the wings prior to take-off at night. Our flight did not require the use of the light but if we were to operate into an icing environment how would we illuminate the wing surface for the crews. I wonder if maybe the A330/340 light configuration may have been mistakenly incorporated into the A320. The A330/340 has 2 lights on each side. One for engine nacelles and the other for wing inspection.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A320 Captain reports that the MEL no longer requires operational wing illumination lights for dispatch and does not agree with FAR 121.341b that seems to require them.
Narrative: I am curious how my Air Carrier received relief for inoperative 'Wing Scan illumination Lights' for dispatch. FAR Part 121.341 paragraph (b) is clear on the requirement for wing illumination. The MMEL Section 2; or OPS Placard now states 'No operational Restrictions'. The wing scan illumination light does not illuminate the top surface of the wing and is not required or effective for wing visual inspections. Maintenance Control mentioned the MEL had been recently revised. The Wing Scan light does illuminate the wing and I have used it on occasion during the winter to inspect the wings prior to take-off at night. Our flight did not require the use of the light but if we were to operate into an icing environment how would we illuminate the wing surface for the crews. I wonder if maybe the A330/340 light configuration may have been mistakenly incorporated into the A320. The A330/340 has 2 lights on each side. One for engine nacelles and the other for wing inspection.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.