Narrative:

Air carrier airlines was short 1 aircraft for flight operations due to all aircraft being damaged and OTS. After discussing options with my boss, director of maintenance operations, and fleet controller, I elected to take aircraft and allow it to start revenue service, before completing the planned heavy maintenance modification. This decision caused aircraft to operate without the VHF #3 or communication (ACARS) being activated. When discovered, the decision was made to maintenance ferry to our maintenance base, to have work completed on an overnight visit. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the dispatch of the new B737-700 with the #3 VHF communication and ACARS system not activated was a violation of company policy and not far's. The reporter said the MEL allows dispatch of these system.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE OF COMPANY POLICY WITH THE #3 VHF COM AND ACRARS SYS INOP.

Narrative: ACR AIRLINES WAS SHORT 1 ACFT FOR FLT OPS DUE TO ALL ACFT BEING DAMAGED AND OTS. AFTER DISCUSSING OPTIONS WITH MY BOSS, DIRECTOR OF MAINT OPS, AND FLEET CTLR, I ELECTED TO TAKE ACFT AND ALLOW IT TO START REVENUE SVC, BEFORE COMPLETING THE PLANNED HVY MAINT MODIFICATION. THIS DECISION CAUSED ACFT TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE VHF #3 OR COM (ACARS) BEING ACTIVATED. WHEN DISCOVERED, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO MAINT FERRY TO OUR MAINT BASE, TO HAVE WORK COMPLETED ON AN OVERNIGHT VISIT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE DISPATCH OF THE NEW B737-700 WITH THE #3 VHF COM AND ACARS SYS NOT ACTIVATED WAS A VIOLATION OF COMPANY POLICY AND NOT FAR'S. THE RPTR SAID THE MEL ALLOWS DISPATCH OF THESE SYS.

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.