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B737NG captain reported being subjected to 'pilot pushing' pressure to depart with an unwanted aircraft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1523092 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201803 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 20000 Flight Crew Type 10000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
During preflight planning of the flight plan and the maintenance log; the first officer and I determined that with the combination of aircraft systems inoperative; complex MEL requirements; fatigue (third flight of the duty period and the late hour of the day); departure; enroute and destination weather and forecast; that it was not safe to continue to operate with this plan and this aircraft. Initially this was met with complete professionalism and concurrence as the PIC had made a final decision. I was then approached by line maintenance requesting my explanation for the aircraft refusal and their reiterating of the MEL and that it was legal to fly. This was followed by customer service reminding me that the flight was sold out and all of these people needing to get to their destination. As professional pilots; we always understand the desire for everyone to want to get where they are going and the need for the company to operate all scheduled flights. I am required and expected to make sound decisions based on my three decades of experience to maintain a safe operation. It is a responsibility I enjoy and; at the same time; take very seriously. This was a clear instance of pilot pushing by various entities and contrary to the core of [our company's] operating parameters.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737NG Captain reported being subjected to 'pilot pushing' pressure to depart with an unwanted aircraft.
Narrative: During preflight planning of the flight plan and the maintenance log; the First Officer and I determined that with the combination of aircraft systems inoperative; complex MEL requirements; fatigue (third flight of the duty period and the late hour of the day); departure; enroute and destination weather and forecast; that it was not safe to continue to operate with this plan and this aircraft. Initially this was met with complete professionalism and concurrence as the PIC had made a final decision. I was then approached by line maintenance requesting my explanation for the aircraft refusal and their reiterating of the MEL and that it was legal to fly. This was followed by Customer Service reminding me that the flight was sold out and all of these people needing to get to their destination. As professional pilots; we always understand the desire for everyone to want to get where they are going and the need for the company to operate all scheduled flights. I am required and expected to make sound decisions based on my three decades of experience to maintain a safe operation. It is a responsibility I enjoy and; at the same time; take very seriously. This was a clear instance of pilot pushing by various entities and contrary to the core of [our company's] operating parameters.
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.