Narrative:

Flight plan release indicated that the ife system was on MEL 23-10 inop. Called maintenance as the ife contractor had put an entry in the logbook as accomplished work card 23-32-00 (ops check system normal). Rjaa maintenance arrived at the gate and I asked him if he could remove the system placard. He called the ife technician to the plane who then told me that the system worked but needed further troubleshooting. Logbook items 12; 13; 14 & 16 all addressed parts of the ife system. Local maintenance did not clear the ife placard. Per the MEL 23-10 and nef 23-33b; I instructed the purser not to use the ife system for any of the required passenger safety briefings; or other pre-recorded announcements. After departure; I was made aware that the ife system was used for the passenger safety demo. Apparently; the purser decided to use the system after being instructed by me (captain) not to use this equipment. After gate arrival the purser came to cockpit; I discussed with her the violation of policy and possible far's regarding use of an aircraft system that was on MEL placard; and that the final authority for operation of company equipment rests with the captain designated on the flight release. She told me that the mechanics; as they left the aircraft in tokyo; told her the system was fully functional and to use it. I pointed out that the captain has the last say regarding use of equipment on company aircraft and that she should have coordinated what she believed proper use with the captain as I had previously told her specifically not to use the pre-recorded portion of the ife system as it was placarded inoperative.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B777 Captain is informed after the fact that the Purser attempted to use the IFE system for passenger briefing after being advised that it was inoperative on MEL and not to be used.

Narrative: Flight plan release indicated that the IFE System was on MEL 23-10 inop. Called Maintenance as the IFE Contractor had put an entry in the logbook as accomplished work card 23-32-00 (ops check system normal). RJAA Maintenance arrived at the gate and I asked him if he could remove the system placard. He called the IFE Technician to the plane who then told me that the system worked but needed further troubleshooting. Logbook items 12; 13; 14 & 16 all addressed parts of the IFE system. Local Maintenance did not clear the IFE placard. Per the MEL 23-10 and NEF 23-33b; I instructed the Purser not to use the IFE system for any of the required passenger safety briefings; or other pre-recorded announcements. After departure; I was made aware that the IFE system was used for the passenger safety demo. Apparently; the Purser decided to use the system after being instructed by me (Captain) not to use this equipment. AFTER GATE ARRIVAL THE PURSER CAME TO COCKPIT; I DISCUSSED WITH HER THE VIOLATION OF POLICY AND POSSIBLE FAR'S REGARDING USE OF AN AIRCRAFT SYSTEM THAT WAS ON MEL PLACARD; AND THAT THE FINAL AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF COMPANY EQUIPMENT RESTS WITH THE CAPTAIN DESIGNATED ON THE FLIGHT RELEASE. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANICS; AS THEY LEFT THE AIRCRAFT IN TOKYO; TOLD HER THE SYSTEM WAS FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND TO USE IT. I POINTED OUT THAT THE CAPTAIN HAS THE LAST SAY REGARDING USE OF EQUIPMENT ON COMPANY AIRCRAFT AND THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE COORDINATED WHAT SHE BELIEVED PROPER USE WITH THE CAPTAIN AS I HAD PREVIOUSLY TOLD HER SPECIFICALLY NOT TO USE THE PRE-RECORDED PORTION OF THE IFE SYSTEM AS IT WAS PLACARDED INOP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.