OEBs are temporary directives issued to flight crews that must be applied under specific conditions to manage potential risks in aircraft operation. These bulletins are created when a situation is identified that could pose a threat to safety, and no immediate permanent solution is available. OEBs remain in effect until a corrective measure, such as a service bulletin (SB), can be implemented to resolve the underlying issue.
What does an OEB contains?
- OEBs provide a structured response to unforeseen situations that could impact aircraft safety.
- They offer pilots guidance on how to handle these situations effectively, ensuring continued safe operation.
When Airbus identifies a need for an OEB, they coordinate with relevant authorities and issue a Flight Operations Transmission (FOT) to operators. This transmission includes the rationale for the OEB, an advance copy of the OEB, and any necessary revisions to the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM).
Operators are responsible for implementing OEBs as soon as they are published. This involves updating operational documentation such as the Flight Crew Operating Manual (FCOM) and Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) with the new procedures.
Types of OEB
Operational Engineering Bulletins (OEBs) are categorized into two types based on their impact on aircraft operations: Red OEBs and White OEBs.
- Red OEB: Red OEBs are issued for safety-related concerns. They address situations where non-compliance could significantly compromise the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.
- White OEB: White OEBs focus on operational efficiency. They cover issues where non-compliance may not directly affect safety but can lead to disruptions such as diversions, delays, or inefficiencies.
OEBs can be found in FCOM as well as QRH of your aircraft.
Pilot Responsibilities
- It is essential for flight crews to review applicable OEBs during the preliminary cockpit preparation phase. Understanding the content and context of each OEB ensures pilots can apply the procedures correctly when necessary.
- Applying an OEB incorrectly can impair safety. It is crucial for pilots to understand the procedures thoroughly and apply them only under the specified conditions to avoid adverse effects.
OEB Reminder Function
Airbus promotes the use of this function to reduce flight crew workload, minimize the risk of overlooking OEB procedures, and enhance confidence in the ECAM system.
The OEB Reminder Function, implemented in the Flight Warning Computer (FWC), helps flight crews identify ECAM procedures and status messages affected by an OEB. This function is activated when a warning or caution occurs, notifying the crew of an OEB related to the displayed alert or status. In such cases, the flight crew must refer to the QRH instead of following ECAM procedures directly.
Three scenarios may arise with the OEB Reminder Function:
- Only the ECAM Procedure is Affected: The ECAM alert title and status messages remain unchanged, but all corresponding actions on ECAM are replaced by a message “REFER TO QRH PROC”.
- Only the Status Messages are Affected: The ECAM alert title and related status messages remain the same, with additional message on STS page “REFER TO QRH PROC”.
- Both ECAM Procedure and Status Messages are Affected: The ECAM alert title and status messages remain unchanged, but all corresponding actions on ECAM are replaced by a message “REFER TO QRH PROC”, with additional message on STS page “REFER TO QRH PROC”.
Effective implementation of OEB reminder function involves several steps:
- Validation of each OEB by Operational Engineering.
- Updating and distributing relevant documentation.
- Activation of the OEB Reminder Code by Maintenance Engineering.
- Integration of OEB reminder code deletion in the retrofit work order.
- Documentation updates following retrofit completion.
References: