Date: 202005
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Pitot-Static System
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Technician
Reporter qualification: Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Maintenance
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: I was assigned Aircraft X; on the list of things to do was Maintenance Check Manual (MCM) XX-XX-XX. The card was not issued but was there to use as a guide since the aircraft was approaching 48 hours on the ground. I looked over the MCM card and saw GPM XX.XX on the front of card. GPM XX.XX.X covers pitot tube covers and referenced to also use AMM of the particular fleet which in this case was X fleet. I could only find the removal and replacement of the pitot tube in the aircraft maintenance manual. I brought this to the attention of the hangar manager. Manager suggested I get with Engineer X. I also noticed on the MCM XX-XX-XX that there should be an entry in the aircraft log book that pitot covers are installed. Engineer X told me the information I was requesting was in the company repair document and the all fleets maintenance manual.When researching the repair document; [it] referenced the AMM ATA XX ice and rain which gave the circuit breakers used without the warnings associated with specific order of opening the C/B's. The warnings for the order of C/B's is located in AMM XX-XX-XX for the removal and replacement of the pitot tube itself and no sign of pitot covers in the AMM also. When I was in conversation with the Engineer he also said the AFMM covered the same material. I had read the preface of the AFMM and understood it was not an FAA approved manual unless it had an AMOC (Alternate Method of Compliance) with it to make it a legal and legitimate to sign off in the AML. I constantly hear the supervisors X and Y state it is an approved FAA manual and instruct others to use it to sign off the logbook. The Engineer agreed with me and did say it was not an FAA approved manual and only to be used by the engineers. Upon looking into the manual and checking the individual fleets I found that all of the Y fleet had the appropriate references needed along with the GPM for a legal sign off in the logbook. I found many conflicts with other procedures when it comes to disinfection of the aircraft.All of the Y fleets state specific approved chemicals and procedures that are not in line with the AFMM spraying in the aircraft. They simply give a warning to use only the approved maintenance procedures or chemicals in order to not due harm to the aircraft systems. I performed all of my work per the GPM and AMM and the repair document for the placement and removal of the pitot tube covers. My concern is with the inconsistencies of the AFMM and the insistence that the AFMM be used in as a catch all in most situations in sign offs in the logbook and in work cards. The purpose of this report is to bring to light and to get the proper authority to either use the AFMM as a regulatory manual or remove it from all of the procedures.I constantly see all fleets maintenance manual references in work cards and on all information and see inconsistencies in that manual and the individual aircraft maintenance manuals. I also get mixed information on the AFMM legitimacy beyond what I read in the manual.




Synopsis: Technician reported that policies and procedures are not consistent and difficult to follow during inspections of aircraft in short term storage.