Narrative:

We were assigned for a flight out of ZZZ. I noticed that five separate navigation lights and strobes were filled with quite a bit of condensation. I wrote the items up as aircraft on ground (aog) grounding items as there is no MEL or non-essential equipment and furnishings (nef) or maintenance control order (mco) allowance for such a condition: electricity in close proximity to water in a sealed area. In fact; in other fleets operated here at our air carrier and at other companies; this condition is not allowed at all. Maintenance was quick to arrive that evening and signed off all five lighting aogs. The following day; the moisture was present in all five navigation and strobe locations. I wrote up all five once again... Aog. The mechanic arrived shortly thereafter and worked with maintenance control and [company] to develop authorization under a manufacturer's guidance letter to operate with water near led lights and associated power sources in the navigation light and strobe light positions. Seeing as the manufacturer and the company did not advise the local FSDO or other branch of the FAA to get authorization for this guidance letter; I thought it prudent to file this report to get FAA oversight on the issue. [Recommend] stop these off the cuff guidance letters that abrogate the safety process. FAA involvement and authorization is a must!!!!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Captain and First Officer report their Air Carrier has been using a Guidance letter from the aircraft's Manufacturer not yet approved by the FAA; to dispatch their aircraft with water/moisture condensation at LED lights and associated power sources in the sealed Navigation; Strobe; Beacon; and Emergency light positions. Letter had not been included in their Aircraft's Flight Manual (AFM) to allow proper dispatch.

Narrative: We were assigned for a flight out of ZZZ. I noticed that five separate Navigation lights and strobes were filled with quite a bit of condensation. I wrote the items up as Aircraft on Ground (AOG) grounding items as there is no MEL or Non-Essential Equipment and Furnishings (NEF) or Maintenance Control Order (MCO) allowance for such a condition: electricity in close proximity to water in a sealed area. In fact; in other fleets operated here at our Air Carrier and at other companies; this condition is NOT allowed at all. Maintenance was quick to arrive that evening and signed off all five lighting AOGs. The following day; the moisture was present in all five Navigation and Strobe locations. I wrote up all five once again... AOG. The mechanic arrived shortly thereafter and worked with Maintenance Control and [company] to develop authorization under a Manufacturer's Guidance Letter to operate with water near LED lights and associated power sources in the NAV light and strobe light positions. Seeing as the Manufacturer and the company did not advise the local FSDO or other branch of the FAA to get authorization for this Guidance Letter; I thought it prudent to file this report to get FAA oversight on the issue. [Recommend] stop these off the cuff Guidance Letters that abrogate the safety process. FAA involvement and authorization is a MUST!!!!

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.