Commuter captain questions the legality of company aircraft certification procedure.

Attributes
ACN	161013
Time
Date	199010
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : eat
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	161013
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Upon inspection of aircraft logs, I found the aircraft inspection time would become due during our flight. Not recalling if this was acceptable, I consulted maintenance. The mechanic explained that under their program, any inspection could be exceeded by 10% and the director of maintenance said under their program, the time could expire en route and still be acceptable. We departed before the time expired and it expired en route. We did not exceed this tie by more than 10%. Upon attending a transition ground school, I was told this time should never be exceeded, even en route. I am currently pursuing a final decision on this question from a suitable authority within the company.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER CAPT QUESTIONS THE LEGALITY OF COMPANY ACFT CERTIFICATION PROC.

Narrative: UPON INSPECTION OF ACFT LOGS, I FOUND THE ACFT INSPECTION TIME WOULD BECOME DUE DURING OUR FLT. NOT RECALLING IF THIS WAS ACCEPTABLE, I CONSULTED MAINT. THE MECH EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THEIR PROGRAM, ANY INSPECTION COULD BE EXCEEDED BY 10% AND THE DIRECTOR OF MAINT SAID UNDER THEIR PROGRAM, THE TIME COULD EXPIRE ENRTE AND STILL BE ACCEPTABLE. WE DEPARTED BEFORE THE TIME EXPIRED AND IT EXPIRED ENRTE. WE DID NOT EXCEED THIS TIE BY MORE THAN 10%. UPON ATTENDING A TRANSITION GND SCHOOL, I WAS TOLD THIS TIME SHOULD NEVER BE EXCEEDED, EVEN ENRTE. I AM CURRENTLY PURSUING A FINAL DECISION ON THIS QUESTION FROM A SUITABLE AUTHORITY WITHIN THE COMPANY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.