Narrative:

On the pre-flight walkaround inspection the first officer noticed a large puddle of fluid beneath the right engine; with fluid dripping from the bottom of the engine's cowl into the puddle. A write-up was entered into the log-book and maintenance was informed. The repairs were made; an engine run-up completed; the log-book signed off by maintenance and we departed the gate approximately on hour late. Approximately an hour and a half from our destination another maintenance discrepancy was encountered; this one relating to the hydraulic system. The discrepancy was entered into the logbook; along with an ACARS message being sent to maintenance and dispatch.upon arrival no maintenance personnel met the aircraft. I advised the gate agent and operations that a mechanic was needed. After approximately ten to fifteen minutes; a gate agent advised me that-'the dispatcher wants you to give him a call'. The dispatcher said - 'captain; were just going to MEL it and get you on your way.' I responded-'well; it may get an MEL put on it; but I need a mechanic out here to inspect the aircraft first.' the dispatcher asked me- 'why?' I responded- 'I'm a pilot; not a mechanic. I need the aircraft inspected by a qualified mechanic to make sure everything is okay'. The dispatcher said - 'that's not necessary; we'll just get you to do the MEL.' I responded - 'I'm not doing the MEL.' the dispatcher asked- 'why?' I responded- 'like I said; I'm a pilot not a trained mechanic.' then in a very smart-ass tone; the dispatcher said- 'well captain; unfortunately you're just going to have to do it.' (he put emphasis on the word have) I told him to 'standby' then hung up the phone.I again informed the gate agent and operations that a mechanic was needed before we would depart. Approximately fifteen minutes later the gate agent told me that maintenance control wanted me to call them. I called maintenance control and spoke to a man who asked-'captain; what's the problem?' I responded- 'the problem is I can't get a mechanic out here to inspect this aircraft for me.' he said- 'captain that would cost us a lot of money to call out contract maintenance.' I responded - 'so; what do I care. I need a mechanic out here.' he said-'we'll just get you to do the MEL.' I responded - 'I'm not going to do the MEL.' he asked - 'why?' I responded -'I'm a pilot; not a trained mechanic. I'm not qualified to trouble-shoot the hydraulic system and sign it off. I need a mechanic.' now he gets an attitude and a smart-ass tone and says - 'oh; you want to play that game; okay.' I responded - 'this is no game. I want a mechanic to inspect this aircraft.' he said - 'alright; I'll play your game' and hung up on me. I was furious. I was in the yellow and quickly approaching red. Two legs and two mechanical issues. I thought I had a bucket-of-bolts on my hands; and then the dispatcher and maintenance control guy are refusing to send me a mechanic because it might be too expensive. This is totally unacceptable. These guys did not seem to appreciate the concept that they were to assist the captain; not the other way around. Finally; contract maintenance showed up (a very nice guy). The mechanic inspected the aircraft's hydraulic system; did all the checks required to apply the MEL as well as providing me and the first officer with a thorough briefing as to what he had done. He assured me that all was in order (which was all I was looking for). He accomplished all the paperwork that was required for the application of the MEL; and then signed off the logbook. Then; we departed. If this were an isolated incident [I would] just pass it off as one-of-those days. Unfortunately; this episode is getting to be the norm lately. A captain's concerns and wants completely ignored. Dispatchers and maintenance control openly trying to pressure captains into accepting aircraft that they are not comfortable with. Not only not respecting the captain's concern for the safety and welfare of his passengers and crew; but also speaking to the captain in an unprofessional and even derogatory manner. This needs to be addressed; in my opinion; and sooner rather than later. Perhaps a review of the 'captains authority and status' section of the flight operations manual is needed for all those concerned. Including; but not limited to dispatchers and maintenance control. For everyone's review: 'the captain is the final authority in flight operations matters. If the captain is dissatisfied with any aspect of the aircraft's airworthiness and/or maintenance status; or if he is not sure the operation can be safely executed; then the operation will stop until he is completely satisfied.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 Captain makes it very clear that he is not satisfied with his company's commitment to aircraft maintenance and respect for Captain's authority.

Narrative: On the pre-flight walkaround inspection the First Officer noticed a large puddle of fluid beneath the right engine; with fluid dripping from the bottom of the engine's cowl into the puddle. A write-up was entered into the log-book and Maintenance was informed. The repairs were made; an engine run-up completed; the log-book signed off by Maintenance and we departed the gate approximately on hour late. Approximately an hour and a half from our destination another maintenance discrepancy was encountered; this one relating to the hydraulic system. The discrepancy was entered into the logbook; along with an ACARS message being sent to Maintenance and Dispatch.Upon arrival no Maintenance personnel met the aircraft. I advised the Gate Agent and Operations that a Mechanic was needed. After approximately ten to fifteen minutes; a Gate Agent advised me that-'The Dispatcher wants you to give him a call'. The Dispatcher said - 'Captain; were just going to MEL it and get you on your way.' I responded-'Well; it may get an MEL put on it; but I need a mechanic out here to inspect the aircraft first.' The Dispatcher asked me- 'Why?' I responded- 'I'm a pilot; not a mechanic. I need the aircraft inspected by a qualified Mechanic to make sure everything is okay'. The Dispatcher said - 'That's not necessary; we'll just get you to do the MEL.' I responded - 'I'm not doing the MEL.' The Dispatcher asked- 'Why?' I responded- 'Like I said; I'm a Pilot not a trained Mechanic.' Then in a very smart-ass tone; the Dispatcher said- 'Well Captain; unfortunately you're just going to HAVE to do it.' (He put emphasis on the word HAVE) I told him to 'Standby' then hung up the phone.I again informed the Gate Agent and Operations that a Mechanic was needed before we would depart. Approximately fifteen minutes later the Gate Agent told me that Maintenance Control wanted me to call them. I called Maintenance Control and spoke to a man who asked-'Captain; what's the problem?' I responded- 'The problem is I can't get a Mechanic out here to inspect this aircraft for me.' He said- 'Captain that would cost us a lot of money to call out Contract Maintenance.' I responded - 'So; what do I care. I need a mechanic out here.' He said-'We'll just get you to do the MEL.' I responded - 'I'm not going to do the MEL.' He asked - 'Why?' I responded -'I'm a Pilot; not a trained Mechanic. I'm not qualified to trouble-shoot the Hydraulic System and sign it off. I need a mechanic.' Now he gets an attitude and a smart-ass tone and says - 'Oh; you want to play that game; okay.' I responded - 'This is no game. I want a mechanic to inspect this aircraft.' He said - 'Alright; I'll play your game' and hung up on me. I was furious. I was in the yellow and quickly approaching red. Two legs and two mechanical issues. I thought I had a bucket-of-bolts on my hands; and then the Dispatcher and Maintenance Control guy are refusing to send me a Mechanic because it might be too expensive. This is totally unacceptable. These guys did not seem to appreciate the concept that THEY were to assist the Captain; not the other way around. Finally; Contract Maintenance showed up (a very nice guy). The Mechanic inspected the aircraft's Hydraulic System; did all the checks required to apply the MEL as well as providing me and the First Officer with a thorough briefing as to what he had done. He assured me that all was in order (Which was all I was looking for). He accomplished all the paperwork that was required for the application of the MEL; and then signed off the logbook. THEN; we departed. If this were an isolated incident [I would] just pass it off as one-of-those days. Unfortunately; this episode is getting to be the norm lately. A Captain's concerns and wants completely ignored. Dispatchers and Maintenance Control openly trying to pressure Captains into accepting aircraft that they are not comfortable with. Not only not respecting the Captain's concern for the safety and welfare of his passengers and crew; but also speaking to the Captain in an unprofessional and even derogatory manner. This needs to be addressed; in my opinion; and sooner rather than later. Perhaps a review of the 'Captains Authority and Status' section of the Flight Operations Manual is needed for all those concerned. Including; but not limited to Dispatchers and Maintenance Control. For everyone's review: 'The Captain is the final authority in flight operations matters. If the Captain is dissatisfied with any aspect of the aircraft's airworthiness and/or maintenance status; or if he is not sure the operation can be safely executed; then the operation will stop until he is completely satisfied.'

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.