Narrative:

While 2 mechanics were preparing to change an inoperative battery charger, a third mechanic came onto the aircraft to tell us to start boarding so it would not be a maintenance delay. I refused to let him tell the gate agents to board. He said that he would not accept the delay so I told him to give it to me. Company operations manual states 'passenger will not board unless electrical power is provided to the aircraft.' the aircraft was without power while they were working on it for the better part of 2 hours. It is regrettable that delays mean more than passenger comfort and company procedures.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-800 CREW REFUSED A MECH'S REQUEST TO ALLOW PAX BOARDING WITH ELECTRICAL PWR COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE ACFT.

Narrative: WHILE 2 MECHS WERE PREPARING TO CHANGE AN INOP BATTERY CHARGER, A THIRD MECH CAME ONTO THE ACFT TO TELL US TO START BOARDING SO IT WOULD NOT BE A MAINT DELAY. I REFUSED TO LET HIM TELL THE GATE AGENTS TO BOARD. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE DELAY SO I TOLD HIM TO GIVE IT TO ME. COMPANY OPS MANUAL STATES 'PAX WILL NOT BOARD UNLESS ELECTRICAL PWR IS PROVIDED TO THE ACFT.' THE ACFT WAS WITHOUT PWR WHILE THEY WERE WORKING ON IT FOR THE BETTER PART OF 2 HRS. IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT DELAYS MEAN MORE THAN PAX COMFORT AND COMPANY PROCS.

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.