Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Aircraft; Procedure; Company Policy
During cruise flight; we had a malfunction of the AOA Heater (AOA HEAT FAIL L). We ran the checklist and since we were in clear skies and had over an hour of flight remaining; I decided to call the Company to first see if there would be any icing conditions that we would encounter going into ZZZ; and second if there were icing conditions; what airport would be a good diversion airport since the nature of the malfunction would have made the airport of intended landing dangerous. When discussing the issue with the Chief Pilot and the Dispatcher; we agreed and decided to press on to ZZZ because there was no icing enroute. The Chief Pilot also mentioned that we were good all the way to ZZZ1 (our next destination). I stated that I would call when I got on the ground and contact the Company to deal with the MEL of the AOA Heater and we would discuss going to ZZZ1 at that time. After we landed; I submitted the MEL and discussed the nature of the MEL with Maintenance Control. In the MEL it specifically states in the Operational Procedures; 'Review flight planning to ensure flight is not conducted in icing conditions.' Having been a pilot that was based in ZZZ1 for many years and very experienced with the area I had a hard time believing that I was not going to be encountering any icing in the month of March; during what has turned out to be a very crazy winter. Dispatch stated that there was no known or forecast icing in the ZZZ1 area and that I should be good to go. I disagreed and called the [On Duty Moderator] to discuss the situation further because I believed that I would be encountering icing.  We conferenced in all parties and decided that the flight would not go to ZZZ1 but instead take this aircraft to a nearby airport and swap to another aircraft there to continue the flight to ZZZ1. After a lengthy delay and the plane swap we got the passengers safely to their destination without incident.Life on the road is tough enough when everything goes smoothly. When things fall apart and plans don't come together as we had expected they would; we are forced to make alternate plans and as a team; I think we do a pretty good job. There are times when the pressure of the job and the time critical nature of our business do make people feel pressured to make bad decisions and further putting people into danger and therefore jeopardizing safety. I believe this was one of those times. I felt the pressure from the Company to get the job done; regardless of informing them that in my years of experience with ZZZ1 that icing conditions were to be expected therefore making the flight to ZZZ1 illegal with regard to the MEL limitation on the AOA Heater Fail. I have a chart from NOAA (obtained after the fact) for the date and time clearly displaying that there indeed was reported and expected icing along our route of flight into ZZZ1. Why did the Company not have this information? Why did they not make this information available to me? I can only presume that they did know and that they wanted this flight completed because we were their only option and if we didn't get this flight done; the owner might leave the program. As professionals; we are the last line of safety for the lives that we are responsible for everyday. My job would be easier and less stressful if I didn't have to worry about the Company pressuring me to complete a flight because they are worried about an owner that might leave the program and is fine with me flying an aircraft with a known AOA Heat malfunction into an area of icing.
A Citation X Captain expressed concern over attempts by his company to coerce him into accepting an aircraft with the AOA heater deferred inoperative into what he believed would be icing conditions in order to complete a flight for an already disgruntled fractional owner.  Ultimately a compromise was reached where the crew flew the aircraft to another airport where it was swapped for another without disqualifying maintenance issues.