Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
I received a phone call from [a manager] asking me to return to the airport and remove an MEL placed on the aircraft the previous day for a tail deice boot patch that is peeling. He said he needed it removed and a NEF (Nonessential Equipment and Furnishings program) applied instead so it can be flown in icing conditions. I voiced my concerns that if that patch comes off or peels further inflight; we will have no way to remove ice from the tail and we will then begin accumulating tail plane ice. He said to; 'check it on the ground and watch it close on pre and post flight'. I told him that did no good if it peels off in a descent. His response was; 'we need that airplane available to generate revenue before we have to fix it'.We need management to stop pressuring us to fly potentially dangerous aircraft. This NEF should have never been approved by the FAA in the first place. Thought needs to be given to safety before these items are approved.
CE-560XLS Captain reported he felt pressure from his company to withdraw a maintenance write-up on a tail deice boot patch.