Narrative:

I learned on report that the first officer (first officer) and I would do an evaluation flight at report at ZZZ. The reason was for a 'pack mod'. The weather at the field was 500 overcast and 2 SM. I met the aircraft with mx (maintenance) and learned the reason for the mx flight was due to a bleed leak. This is a serious issue on the E145.I immediately called dispatch and reminded them that according to the operation manual alert bulletin; maintenance evaluation flight that all flights required 1500 and 3 SM of weather. Dispatch clearly said our regional pilot [not qualified in our embraer 145 aircraft] approved the flight and said it should be no problem. I called the cp (chief pilot) where the cp stated we can isolate a bleed leak and we need the plane flying. I stated the weather and he said it should be no big deal. I stated a bleed leak can quickly turn into emergency and the cp said well you can isolate the problem but I am not familiar with the 145. Why do we not have a line qualified cp? Why does the operations manual allow us to bend rules with management approval? Our management is not line qualified according to SOP.I felt obligated to fly the plane to please management against my better judgement and landing at ZZZ at minimums because the company needed the plane back on the line. I talked with many other senior pilots and they blatantly questioned my judgement. Why do we not have qualified chief pilots? We do not have line qualified management on the equipment according to both operation manuals. How long is this going continue? We have been operating this plane for how many years and why do we not have real pilots managing us? Many of us question how we can answer to management that does not meet the requirements of the FAA approved manuals when we are scared of repercussions. Further; mx control still does not know this aircraft. Bleed leaks are serious and there was no checklist other than fly the plane and make sure it pressurized. I questioned do we go up to FL370? Mx and cp said that I should use my best judgment. Why isn't our mx control qualified in the aircraft? Lastly our dispatch does not understand weather and what IMC is for ride-alongs in VMC or simulator rides is just not enough to understand what line flying is. I felt pushed after and questioned why we are doing evaluation flights in hard IFR. Both dispatch and cp made me feel stupid for questioning my better judgement. Pilots are afraid of pushing against management in fear of repercussions; I know I am. I honestly fear calls from our chief pilots. Pushing pilots is endemic at company; either through fatigue; sick; maintenance. Rumors are flying rampant and it is just the culture here. These attitudes are against the stated safety declaration of management.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Embraer-145 Captain reported that the aircraft had an evaluation flight with weather down to minimums and the flight crew was not familiar with the aircraft.

Narrative: I learned on report that the FO (First Officer) and I would do an evaluation flight at report at ZZZ. The reason was for a 'pack mod'. The weather at the field was 500 overcast and 2 SM. I met the aircraft with mx (Maintenance) and learned the reason for the mx flight was due to a bleed leak. This is a serious issue on the E145.I immediately called dispatch and reminded them that according to the Operation Manual alert bulletin; Maintenance Evaluation Flight that all flights required 1500 and 3 SM of weather. Dispatch clearly said our Regional Pilot [not qualified in our Embraer 145 aircraft] approved the flight and said it should be no problem. I called the CP (Chief Pilot) where the CP stated we can isolate a bleed leak and we need the plane flying. I stated the weather and he said it should be no big deal. I stated a bleed leak can quickly turn into emergency and the CP said well you can isolate the problem but I am not familiar with the 145. Why do we not have a line qualified CP? Why does the Operations Manual allow us to bend rules with management approval? Our management is not line qualified according to SOP.I felt obligated to fly the plane to please management against my better judgement and landing at ZZZ at minimums because the company needed the plane back on the line. I talked with many other senior pilots and they blatantly questioned my judgement. Why do we not have qualified chief pilots? We do not have line qualified management on the equipment according to both Operation Manuals. How long is this going continue? We have been operating this plane for how many years and why do we not have real pilots managing us? Many of us question how we can answer to management that does not meet the requirements of the FAA approved manuals when we are scared of repercussions. Further; mx control still does not know this aircraft. Bleed leaks are serious and there was no checklist other than fly the plane and make sure it pressurized. I questioned do we go up to FL370? Mx and CP said that I should use my best judgment. Why isn't our mx control qualified in the aircraft? Lastly our dispatch does not understand weather and what IMC is for ride-alongs in VMC or simulator rides is just not enough to understand what line flying is. I felt pushed after and questioned why we are doing evaluation flights in hard IFR. Both dispatch and CP made me feel stupid for questioning my better judgement. Pilots are afraid of pushing against management in fear of repercussions; I know I am. I honestly fear calls from our chief pilots. Pushing pilots is endemic at Company; either through fatigue; sick; maintenance. Rumors are flying rampant and it is just the culture here. These attitudes are against the stated safety declaration of management.

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.