Narrative:

While looking up a lav placard I noticed that while dispatcher notification is required for MEL items 38-4 a-f and dispatch initials are required by technician, that soc mgrs are giving initials for lav placards. There is no procedure for this, it was just being historically done. If dispatch initials are not required then have these items removed from the MEL. Or if they are required, let the dispatcher be notified and give their initials, instead of the soc manager.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEL AUTH SIGN OFF NOT BEING DONE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CURRENT PRINTED MEL BUT ON HISTORICAL PRECEDENT. A DISAGREEMENT BTWN OPS CTR AND DISPATCH FUNCTION.

Narrative: WHILE LOOKING UP A LAV PLACARD I NOTICED THAT WHILE DISPATCHER NOTIFICATION IS REQUIRED FOR MEL ITEMS 38-4 A-F AND DISPATCH INITIALS ARE REQUIRED BY TECHNICIAN, THAT SOC MGRS ARE GIVING INITIALS FOR LAV PLACARDS. THERE IS NO PROC FOR THIS, IT WAS JUST BEING HISTORICALLY DONE. IF DISPATCH INITIALS ARE NOT REQUIRED THEN HAVE THESE ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE MEL. OR IF THEY ARE REQUIRED, LET THE DISPATCHER BE NOTIFIED AND GIVE THEIR INITIALS, INSTEAD OF THE SOC MGR.

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.