Narrative:

During preflight; using our flight planning system; I discovered that several maintenance items recorded in our [older] aircraft maintenance computer did not display in the maintenance summary of our [new] flight planning system package. Five separate write-ups from the previous flight; including an irregularity involving a fuel leak; were missing from the maintenance summary. I thought this might be a defect in the flight planning system process until I called the dispatcher and had him conference with the maintenance controller.he (maintenance controller) advised us that company maintenance intentionally filters out some maintenance irregularities to keep the list from getting too big. He stated that certain air traffic area chapters are filtered out. I have never heard this in my 32 years with air carrier X and my many years as a safety advocate. If this is truly the case; how is the pilot in command (PIC) supposed to comply with far 121.563 which requires the PIC to be fully aware of maintenance items from the last flight?the dispatcher wasn't aware of this filtering process either. How is the dispatcher supposed to fulfill his regulatory responsibilities if what the maintenance controller says is true? Maintenance control also stated that this procedure of filtering log items; essentially hiding them from the PIC and the dispatcher; was fully coordinated with our company flight technical training department. I would like a response indicating if this filtering process is; indeed; in place and if this process has been fully coordinated with the FAA. Pilots are unaware that they may not be aware of some; or all maintenance irregularities recorded from the flight as required by far 121.563. I believe that; as stated; this filtering process is contrary to the fars and should be reviewed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B747-400 Captain reports he noticed during his preflight that previously recorded maintenance items in their aircraft maintenance computer were not included in their new flight planning system computer maintenance summary section. Maintenance Control intentionally filtered some of the maintenance items. Pilot believes that process interferes with FAR 121.563.

Narrative: During preflight; using our flight planning system; I discovered that several maintenance items recorded in our [older] aircraft maintenance computer did not display in the maintenance summary of our [new] flight planning system package. Five separate write-ups from the previous flight; including an irregularity involving a fuel leak; were missing from the Maintenance summary. I thought this might be a defect in the flight planning system process until I called the Dispatcher and had him conference with the Maintenance Controller.He (Maintenance Controller) advised us that company Maintenance intentionally filters out some maintenance irregularities to keep the list from getting too big. He stated that certain ATA Chapters are filtered out. I have never heard this in my 32 years with Air Carrier X and my many years as a safety advocate. If this is truly the case; how is the Pilot in Command (PIC) supposed to comply with FAR 121.563 which requires the PIC to be fully aware of maintenance items from the last flight?The Dispatcher wasn't aware of this filtering process either. How is the Dispatcher supposed to fulfill his regulatory responsibilities if what the Maintenance Controller says is true? Maintenance Control also stated that this procedure of filtering Log items; essentially hiding them from the PIC and the Dispatcher; was fully coordinated with our company Flight Technical Training department. I would like a response indicating if this filtering process is; indeed; in place and if this process has been fully coordinated with the FAA. Pilots are unaware that they may not be aware of some; or all maintenance irregularities recorded from the flight as required by FAR 121.563. I believe that; as stated; this filtering process is contrary to the FARs and should be reviewed.

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.