Narrative:

Aircraft was taxied to the gate at xa:40am local time by mechanics for an xb:29am departure. Crew boarded and began the normal set-up. Captain performed walk-around. On walk-around captain noticed both forward static ports had streaked and running red paint from the circular border as well as the lettering. From aircraft knowledge; as well as the label on the [static port] area; captain knew areas were supposed to be clean and smooth. The running paint seemed to violate this protocol. A rivet head was also noticed missing from the number one engine cowl. Per aircraft flight manual procedures; both items were entered into ACARS and sent to maintenance control for action. Local maintenance was notified via radio. Local company mechanic was observed to pull a stand to the left side of aircraft and clean the static port area. He then returned the stand to it's area. Since both sides [of the aircraft] were affected; the captain went to the ramp [office] to inform the mechanic that perhaps he had misread the write-up. The mechanic then stated the write-ups were nonsense anyhow; (he used the longer form of nonsense; but I understand some mechanics are very sensitive to swear words so I won't repeat--although I hate to leave out facts). I politely informed him that our procedures require a write-up of discrepancies (which of course he knows) but he said any write-up this close to departure makes them look bad. Since they brought the plane to the gate; any earlier write-ups were of course impossible. I am not sure if they were embarrassed they missed them; but all the mechanics in the office heard the conversation and no one corrected him. I assume the mechanic had the option to sign-off the write-ups as fraudulent; or unable to find; but instead he cleaned the areas and deferred the missing rivet; thus validating my concerns. I am once again amazed at the attitude of a professional company mechanic. His opinion was that I should not enter very valid write-ups as to make the station look good. In the future they will find me just as uncooperative in this regard; as I prefer safety over style points.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A320 Captain reported the poor attitude of a company Line Mechanic after writing up paint on the forward static ports and a missing rivet on the #1 engine cowl; having to insist proper corrective action be taken.

Narrative: Aircraft was taxied to the gate at XA:40am local time by mechanics for an XB:29am departure. Crew boarded and began the normal set-up. Captain performed walk-around. On walk-around Captain noticed both forward static ports had streaked and running red paint from the circular border as well as the lettering. From aircraft knowledge; as well as the label on the [Static Port] area; Captain knew areas were supposed to be clean and smooth. The running paint seemed to violate this protocol. A rivet head was also noticed missing from the number one engine cowl. Per Aircraft Flight Manual procedures; both items were entered into ACARS and sent to Maintenance Control for action. Local maintenance was notified via radio. Local company Mechanic was observed to pull a stand to the left side of aircraft and clean the static port area. He then returned the stand to it's area. Since both sides [of the aircraft] were affected; the Captain went to the ramp [office] to inform the Mechanic that perhaps he had misread the write-up. The Mechanic then stated the write-ups were nonsense anyhow; (he used the longer form of nonsense; but I understand some mechanics are very sensitive to swear words so I won't repeat--although I hate to leave out facts). I politely informed him that our procedures require a write-up of discrepancies (which of course he knows) but he said any write-up this close to departure makes them look bad. Since they brought the plane to the gate; any earlier write-ups were of course impossible. I am not sure if they were embarrassed they missed them; but all the mechanics in the office heard the conversation and no one corrected him. I assume the Mechanic had the option to sign-off the write-ups as fraudulent; or unable to find; but instead he cleaned the areas and deferred the missing rivet; thus validating my concerns. I am once again amazed at the attitude of a professional company Mechanic. His opinion was that I should not enter very valid write-ups as to make the station look good. In the future they will find me just as uncooperative in this regard; as I prefer safety over style points.

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.