Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 155
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
MEL; Manuals; Logbook Entry; Aircraft; Procedure
Refused to operate aircraft with entire overhead panel lights inoperative. Lights would go full bright; dim; and off uncommanded at random intervals. Deemed unacceptable for night flying and totally unsafe for a late night flight to ZZZ with moderate/heavy rain; low clouds and over 20 kts of crosswinds. Refused at aircraft at gate. I believe the MEL that Maintenance was going to use was not meant for the entire panel being dark.
B737-800 Captain refused aircraft due to erratic overhead warning lights affecting the entire overhead panel.