Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 235; Flight Crew Total 26500; Flight Crew Type 18500
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
Cockpit switches and MX personnel procedures for work in cockpit.[I] have received numerous aircraft over the last year that the white tip on switches are covered in gunk and grime. While a little is not uncommon; now the switches are covered in oil; grease; and hydraulic fluid to the point they are falling apart and feel greasy. Once again with maintenance working multiple issues on the aircraft [there's the] occasional problem. What I have noticed now is that maintenance personnel are starting to wear gloves to prevent them from getting their hands too dirty. That being said we don't know when the last time they changed their gloves and if they had been working a lavatory or hygiene issue; it has now been brought into the cockpit and deposited on all the switches. I don't know how often all the controls in the cockpit are cleaned but based on the appearance of the switch controls I see it is very seldom.
An air carrier pilot reported a concern about the transfer of unhealthy fluids to the switches and other areas of the flight deck by Maintenance personnel.