CUSTOMER SERVICES DIRECTORATE

2 ROND POINT EMILE DEWOITINE

31700 BLAGNAC FRANCE
TELEPHONE + 33 (0)5 61 93 33 33

ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

SUBJECT: ATA 24 – Ni-Cd Batteries - Risk of capacity reduction during aircraft parking

AIRCRAFT TYPE: A318,A319,A320,A321

OUR REF.: A24N006-20 Rev 00 dated 09-SEP-2020

EFFECTIVITY DATE: 09-SEP-2020

1. AIRCRAFT AFFECTED

All Aircraft

2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTATION

2.1 APPENDIX

Appendix 1: Short term action

Appendix 2: On-wing battery preservation procedure

2.2 REFERENCES

Ref 1: ISI 24.00.00046 (ATA 24 - Recommendations for parking & storage during COVID19
period)

Ref 2: Task in AMM PB 10-10-00 (Parking and storage procedure)

Ref 3: Task in AMM PB 10-11-00 (Parking periodic ground checks)

Ref 4: Task in AMM PB 10-30-00 (Return to operation after a parking period)

Ref 5: Task in AMM PB 24-38-51 (Removal of the battery)

Ref 6: Task in AMM PB 31-21-00 (Procedure to set the Clock)

Ref 7: Task in AMM PB 24-41-00 (Energize the aircraft electrical Circuits)

Ref 8: Task in AMM PB 24-41-00 (De-Energize the aircraft electrical circuits)

Ref 9: Task in AMM PB 24-42-00 (Energize the Ground Service Network from the External Power)

Ref 10: Task in AMM PB 24-42-00 (De-Energize the Ground Service Network from the External
Power)

Ref 11: SAFT Battery CMM 24-38-51 (Battery PN 2758)

Ref 12: SAFT Battery CMM 24-38-58 (Battery PN 416526)

AOT ref: A24N006-20 Rev 00 Page 1 of 6 Date: 09-SEP-2020

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ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

3. REASON

The purpose of this AOT is to inform the operators:

● that the capacity of the main batteries (FINs 2PB1 & 2PB2) may be reduced due to repetitive
disconnections and connections during an aircraft parking period, as detailed in § 3.1
and § 4.2.1 of this AOT

● and of the need of restoring the capacity of these batteries per ref 11 (or ref 12), within a defined
time frame.

3.1 FACTS

In the frame of massive aircraft grounding due to COVID-19 pandemic, several engineering reviews
have been organised between Airbus and the battery supplier SAFT. During these reviews, it was
highlighted that the current AMM aircraft parking procedures (per ref 2 & ref 3) requiring physical
disconnection and periodic reconnection of batteries may induce a reduction in capacity for Ni-Cd
batteries, when repetitively done.

The current AMM aircraft parking procedures require:

● to disconnect the batteries when the aircraft is parked and de-energized for more than 2 days
(per ref 2).

● to reconnect the batteries when aircraft is energized during aircraft periodic ground checks
(per ref 3).

● to disconnect the batteries again at the end of the aircraft periodic ground checks (per ref 3).

When a Ni-Cd battery is physically disconnected from the aircraft loads, it self-discharges, due to an
electrochemical phenomenon, thus, inducing a permanent reduction of battery capacity.

After each cycle of battery self-discharge, the available battery capacity will decrease progressively and
will not be recovered to 100% of its initial capacity even when the battery is charged again from the
aircraft electrical network during the periodic ground checks per ref 3.
In order to restore the battery capacity, the battery must be sent to an approved battery shop for a
periodical check or a battery regular check or a battery general overhaul per ref 11 (or ref 12).

Note 1: This action in shop includes a battery charge at constant current which allows to restore the
battery capacity.

Note 2: On aircraft, it is not possible to:

▪ restore the battery capacity as the battery is charged at constant voltage.

▪ check the battery capacity.

AOT ref: A24N006-20 Rev 00 Page 2 of 6 Date: 09-SEP-2020

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ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

3.2 CONSEQUENCES

As the battery capacity may be significantly reduced, the battery performance may be affected and
hence, the battery functions may not be fully guaranteed.

4. SHORT TERM ACTION

NOTE: This AOT is classified mandatory or expected to be classified mandatory by an Airworthiness

Directive (AD). The accomplishment instructions marked as Required for Compliance (RC) must be done
to comply with the AD. “RC” is indicating these paragraphs accordingly. If an AD is issued, reference
should be made to the AD for the mandated accomplishment timescale.

NOTE: The accomplishment instructions of this AOT include procedures given in other documents or
in other sections of the AOT. When the words ’refer to’ are used and the operator has a procedure
accepted by the local authority he belongs to, the accepted alternative procedure can be used. When
the words ’in accordance with’ are used then the given procedure must be followed.

NOTE: The access and close-up instructions, not comprising return to service tests, in this AOT do not
constitute or affect the technical intent of the AOT. Operators can therefore, as deemed necessary, omit
or add access and/or close-up steps to add flexibility to their maintenance operations as long as the
technical intent of the AOT is met within the set parameters.

4.1 PLANNING AND MANPOWER

4.1.1 ACCOMPLISHMENT TIMESCALE (RC)

The compliance time for this AOT is defined as follows:

Within 4 months after the AOT effectivity date or prior to next flight, whichever occurs latest.

4.1.2 MANPOWER

N/A

4.2 DESCRIPTION

4.2.1 APPLICABILITY

This AOT is applicable to Ni-Cd batteries (PN 2758 or PN 416526) which have been disconnected, kept
(on aircraft) and reconnected on aircraft per ref 2 and ref 3 more than 4 times during an aircraft parking
period since last battery regular check or battery general overhaul per ref 11 (or ref 12) and which are
still installed on aircraft, at the effectivity date of this AOT.

4.2.2 TERMINATING ACTION (RC)

The restoration of the capacity of the batteries, identified in § 4.2.1, is the terminating action for this
AOT and is defined as follows:

- For batteries, identified in § 4.2.1, do a battery periodical check or a battery regular check or a
battery general overhaul per ref 11 (or ref 12) in an approved battery shop.

Note: This action in shop includes a battery charge at constant current allowing to restore the
battery capacity.

AOT ref: A24N006-20 Rev 00 Page 3 of 6 Date: 09-SEP-2020

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ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

4.2.3 APPLICATION OF NEW AMM PROCEDURES (RC)

In order to preserve batteries, when the aircraft is parked and de-energized for more than 2 days, the
AMM will be revised to introduce, as detailed in § 5.2 of this AOT, the off-wing battery preservation or
the on-wing battery preservation.

If batteries, identified per § 4.2.1, are installed on aircraft

After the terminating action, as detailed in § 4.2.2 of this AOT, is completed, the off-wing battery
preservation or the on-wing battery preservation, as detailed in § 5.2 of this AOT, must be applied when
the aircraft is parked and de-energized for more than 2 days.

However, after effectivity date of this AOT, Airbus recommends to start applying the off-wing battery
preservation or the on-wing battery preservation when the aircraft is parked and de-energized more
than 2 days.

If batteries, not identified per § 4.2.1, are installed on aircraft

After effectivity date of this AOT, the off-wing battery preservation or the on-wing battery preservation,
as detailed in § 5.2 of this AOT, must be applied when the aircraft is parked and de-energized more
than 2 days.

For additional information, refer to appendix 1 of this AOT.

4.2.4 ACCESS

N/A

4.2.5 INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

N/A

4.2.6 FINDINGS

N/A

4.3 SPARES AND TOOLING

N/A

5. FURTHER INFORMATION

5.1 FOLLOW-UP PLAN

A webinar will be organized within two weeks after the publication of this AOT to answer all questions
pertaining to this AOT.

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ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

5.2 IMPACTED DOCUMENTATION

The AMM will be revised (currently planned for November 2020) to introduce, as detailed below, the
off-wing battery preservation or the on-wing battery preservation.

A - Off Wing Battery Preservation

If the aircraft is parked and de-energized more than 2 days, the batteries have to be disconnected and
removed from aircraft per ref 5.

Note 1: To allow ground periodic checks per ref 3 during an aircraft parking period, batteries
must be re-installed on aircraft and re-connected to the aircraft electrical network

Note 2: Batteries removed from aircraft in parking or storage have to be stored per ref 11 (or
per ref 12).

B - On-Wing Battery Preservation

The on-wing battery preservation is a new procedure consisting in leaving the battery physically
connected to the aircraft electrical network and keeping a minimum battery hot bus consumption, when
the aircraft is parked and de-energised more than 2 days. This is achieved by pulling the circuit breakers
of some loads supplied by the battery hot buses, as detailed in the appendix 2 of this AOT. In this
configuration, the progressive and permanent reduction of the capacity of the batteries is avoided.

The on-wing battery preservation can be applied only if:

 batteries, not identified per § 4.2.1, are installed on aircraft.

or
 batteries, identified per § 4.2.1, are first restored per § 4.2.2 and then, installed on aircraft.

Note: If this procedure is applied for batteries with a reduced capacity, there is a risk that these batteries
are over discharged before the aircraft is energised again per ref 3. This situation may prevent the
battery from being recharged on aircraft.

When this procedure is applied, batteries must be sent to an approved battery shop for a battery regular
check, every six months during the aircraft parking period.

6. AOT APPROVAL

The technical content of this document is approved under the authority of the DOA ref.EASA.21J.031.

7. REPORTING

Questions about this AOT are to be addressed to Airbus Customer Services through TechRequest on
Airbus World, selecting Maintenance Engineering Domain, Engineering Support Section and ATA 24-
38.

AOT ref: A24N006-20 Rev 00 Page 5 of 6 Date: 09-SEP-2020

© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT
ALERT OPERATORS TRANSMISSION - AOT

As per latest reporting policy (Ref to OIT 999.0018/16), inspection results (with or without findings) are
to be addressed to Airbus Customer Services through the generic e-mail address:
[email protected].

Best Regards,

Christian FREMONT Jean Pierre GOMEZ

VICE PRESIDENT ENGINEERING SUPPORT VICE PRESIDENT A320 PROGRAMME
CUSTOMER SERVICES CUSTOMER SERVICES

AOT ref: A24N006-20 Rev 00 Page 6 of 6 Date: 09-SEP-2020

© AIRBUS S.A.S. 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT