Narrative:

I refused to fly aircraft X due to an inoperative PA system from both the cockpit and cabin. Although approved for flight per the MEL, I could not reconcile this authority/authorized with the procedures dictated in the MD80 QRH (MD80 book) and flight manual. For brevity of this report, I will not list each specific procedure or situation that calls for utilization of the PA. However, I will mention far 121.511-a-2 requires the flight crew (meaning the pilots) to make a PA regarding passenger seatbelt use. If I had accepted the aircraft, I may have violated this far. I also believe an operating PA system is just as vital to be operating from the cabin. Flight attendants have extensive PA's to make. With the PA inoperative, they would have to repeat each PA every 4-5 rows. Planned evacuate/evacuation preparations would take much longer. Flight attendants seated for strong turbulence may have difficulty briefing passenger in an emergency. One example would be in the case of an explosive depressurization. I believe this MEL authority/authorized allowing for an inoperative PA does not reflect today's needs or allow for a safe operation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WITH BOTH CABIN AND COCKPIT PA SYS INOP, BUT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MEL, AN ACR CAPT REFUSES THE ACFT, SIGHTING POSSIBLE NON COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER REGS AND PROC REQUIREMENTS.

Narrative: I REFUSED TO FLY ACFT X DUE TO AN INOP PA SYS FROM BOTH THE COCKPIT AND CABIN. ALTHOUGH APPROVED FOR FLT PER THE MEL, I COULD NOT RECONCILE THIS AUTH WITH THE PROCS DICTATED IN THE MD80 QRH (MD80 BOOK) AND FLT MANUAL. FOR BREVITY OF THIS RPT, I WILL NOT LIST EACH SPECIFIC PROC OR SIT THAT CALLS FOR UTILIZATION OF THE PA. HOWEVER, I WILL MENTION FAR 121.511-A-2 REQUIRES THE FLT CREW (MEANING THE PLTS) TO MAKE A PA REGARDING PAX SEATBELT USE. IF I HAD ACCEPTED THE ACFT, I MAY HAVE VIOLATED THIS FAR. I ALSO BELIEVE AN OPERATING PA SYS IS JUST AS VITAL TO BE OPERATING FROM THE CABIN. FLT ATTENDANTS HAVE EXTENSIVE PA'S TO MAKE. WITH THE PA INOP, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPEAT EACH PA EVERY 4-5 ROWS. PLANNED EVAC PREPARATIONS WOULD TAKE MUCH LONGER. FLT ATTENDANTS SEATED FOR STRONG TURB MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY BRIEFING PAX IN AN EMER. ONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE IN THE CASE OF AN EXPLOSIVE DEPRESSURIZATION. I BELIEVE THIS MEL AUTH ALLOWING FOR AN INOP PA DOES NOT REFLECT TODAY'S NEEDS OR ALLOW FOR A SAFE OP.

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.