Narrative:

During the cockpit set up I noticed the data cards missing. The first officer and I looked over the entire flight deck and did not find the data cards. I called maintenance and informed them about this. They were going to send a maintenance technician out with the new data cards. After finishing the cockpit set up I looked in the fom for information on the requirement for the data cards. I found the reference to the jumpseat briefing card that refers to the SOP when the jumpseat briefng card is missing. The maintenance technician arrived and did not have the data cards. I started to write up the missing data cards while the maintenance technician called maintenance control or his supervisor. When the maintenance technician finished the call he said the data cards were not a required item. I did not find in the fom where the data cards were required and with the aircraft ready for departure; a few minutes late; I voided the entry for the data cards; per the fom. I was not able to show the maintenance technician in writing that the data cards were required and I did not feel I could delay the flight based on my gut feel. Previous dealings with maintenance makes this requirement; show me in writing; the norm. The information contained in the data cards is on the aircraft so; when the maintenance technician stated the data cards were not required; it seemed not completely without merit. During the flight I continued to search the fom and the SOP. I found the requirement for the data cards in the SOP. The mistake was mine. In the future I will strive to have a better quick reference for myself to address possible issue with maintenance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Pressed for time; an EMB-170 flight crew departed without required cockpit documentation.

Narrative: During the cockpit set up I noticed the data cards missing. The First Officer and I looked over the entire flight deck and did not find the data cards. I called maintenance and informed them about this. They were going to send a Maintenance Technician out with the new data cards. After finishing the cockpit set up I looked in the FOM for information on the requirement for the data cards. I found the reference to the jumpseat briefing card that refers to the SOP when the jumpseat briefng card is missing. The Maintenance Technician arrived and did not have the data cards. I started to write up the missing data cards while the Maintenance Technician called Maintenance Control or his Supervisor. When the Maintenance Technician finished the call he said the data cards were not a required item. I did not find in the FOM where the data cards were required and with the aircraft ready for departure; a few minutes late; I voided the entry for the data cards; per the FOM. I was not able to show the Maintenance Technician in writing that the data cards were required and I did not feel I could delay the flight based on my gut feel. Previous dealings with maintenance makes this requirement; show me in writing; the norm. The information contained in the data cards is on the aircraft so; when the Maintenance Technician stated the data cards were not required; it seemed not completely without merit. During the flight I continued to search the FOM and the SOP. I found the requirement for the data cards in the SOP. The mistake was mine. In the future I will strive to have a better quick reference for myself to address possible issue with maintenance.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.