Narrative:

I refused the airplane because the body gear steering was deferred inoperative. We were planned at maximum structural gross weight; 875;000lbs. The deferral states; 'during taxi; avoid sharp turns if possible; to avoid excessive tire scrubbing.' I deemed we were unable to comply with this due to the pushback and hard turnout off the gate; and subsequent sharp 90 degree turns to get to the departure runway. I had operational and safety concerns about taking an aircraft with reduced steering capability in the event of a divert into snowy; icy runways and taxiways; on far northern airports with few or no fillets on the taxiways; perhaps requiring 180 degree turns on the runway. I requested a maintenance repair; or a replacement airplane with no success. I was told the airplane was mission capable and my concerns were dismissed. My first officers all supported me but the flight office did not. We all had absences placed in our pay records which were later changed to did not fly. It certainly felt like pilot pushing to me. Side note: apparently; I was the 14th captain that morning to refuse an airplane.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The Flight Crew of a B747-400 and Flight Operations Managers disagreed as to the suitability of an aircraft with a deferred body gear steering system for a long range flight taking off at maximum structural gross weight. The flight was canceled and the Flight Crew threatened with pay loss and/or possible discharge for refusing demands that they accept the aircraft.

Narrative: I refused the airplane because the body gear steering was deferred inoperative. We were planned at maximum structural gross weight; 875;000lbs. The deferral states; 'during taxi; avoid sharp turns if possible; to avoid EXCESSIVE tire scrubbing.' I deemed we were unable to comply with this due to the pushback and hard turnout off the gate; and subsequent sharp 90 degree turns to get to the departure runway. I had operational and safety concerns about taking an aircraft with reduced steering capability in the event of a divert into snowy; icy runways and taxiways; on far northern airports with few or no fillets on the taxiways; perhaps requiring 180 degree turns on the runway. I requested a maintenance repair; or a replacement airplane with no success. I was told the airplane was mission capable and my concerns were dismissed. My First Officers all supported me but the Flight Office did not. We all had absences placed in our pay records which were later changed to did not fly. It certainly felt like pilot pushing to me. Side note: Apparently; I was the 14th Captain that morning to refuse an airplane.

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.