MD-83
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Physiological - Other; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy; Aircraft
Over the past few weeks there have been numerous aircraft on my flights that had inoperative emergency exit lights in the cabin. In each case I had called Maintenance and had the lights fixed. This has resulted in delayed departures; sometimes extensive. Clearly; the maintenance program that is supposed to keep these lights working is ineffective. On one of my flights; for example; 3 of the battery packs were inoperative. That equals 15 overhead emergency lights. I have records of most of the aircraft that were involved with these light problems if needed.Today I received a call from my Chief Pilot who asked what was the problem with my flights and the emergency exit lights. He asked me if I was required to check them. He asked if I had checked them in the past several years. He asked why my flights are having problems with the emergency lights and other flights are not. He asked if I was aware of an alleged pilot's union effort to emphasize awareness of operational safety issues. It was perfectly clear what the intent of the call was. He is warning me that if I continue to write up these lights that the next call will not be a friendly warning. Am I intimidated? Absolutely. I said to him that I am now between a rock and a hard place. If I write up the emergency lights when they don't work; then I am putting my job in jeopardy and if I don't I am putting my passengers in possible jeopardy. This call was very upsetting to me. I suggested that it is a serious problem and needs to be addressed at the maintenance level and as the aircraft RONs why could they not take care of these continuing problems before it comes to the gate.In this call at least he was not interested in finding a solution to the recurring light problem. I was the problem not the inoperative emergency exit lights. The very next day I received a message from another Manager addressing the checking of the lights.
An MD80 Captain who had uncovered a significant number of aircraft being dispatched with undocumented/unrepaired inoperative emergency exit lights was counseled by her Chief Pilot for performing operational checks which are not specifically required by the company which resulted in delayed flights. The reporter felt intimidated and threatened with discipline unless she elected to ignore what she believes to be a significant likelihood that passengers for which she is responsible will be put at risk should an emergency requiring an evacuation occur.