B737-800
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 170; Flight Crew Total 768; Flight Crew Type 768
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Aircraft; Company Policy; Human Factors
Refused a 737-800. The were three MEL's. Auto speed brake system; Stall warning system; and the Speed brake load alleviation system. Yes; they were legal MEL's BUT the combination of all of them presented a lot of unique challenges which I felt was unsafe; and after concurring with dispatch (who was fantastic) and my First Officer; I decided to refuse the airplane. Then the sh*t show started. Maintenance Control told me that maintenance would not fix an airplane which I asked for as soon as I saw the flight plan unless it's refused; so that was part of the reason why it was refused. Either way; I knew I wasn't taking it as is.Dispatch told me she'd call as soon as she got an update on either an aircraft swap; or fix; but the initial plan was for Maintenance to attempt a fix. This was about XA55. Departure was XC05. As the First Officer and I were sitting in Operations we noticed that the App was still showing us on time. I frequently checked pilot mobile for a new flight plan and the app for an update. At XB50; the app still said 'on time' and I told the First Officer I bet the crew desk calls wondering where we are at. Sure enough at XC03; some guy from the crew desk called and he said; 'where are you' ? I told him I refused the airplane. There was a pause; and then he says 'well I was told to call and tell you the airplane will be fixed in 5 to 10 minutes'(total lie). I checked the app; and now it said; ';we want you to know your flight is departing late because we're working to find a new flight crew....' another lie.The First Officer and I walk to the airplane. Agent says; 'Oh there you are'. I asked if she knew that I refused the airplane. She said; 'no; we took over from the agents who boarded; but they didn't tell us anything'. So now we have a plane full of people who have no clue what's going on; but if they look at the app they can see that company is looking for pilots. This was an epic failure from beginning to end. There was ZERO communication and the little bits of information that was passed along was completely false. Operations; Maintenance; and zone not communicating with anyone. Mechanics who refused to tell the purser what was going on during their many trips between the cockpit and the to the crew desk wondering where we were; to then telling me that 'someone' told him to call and tell us they were 5- 10 minutes from being done. When I got to the airplane; the mechanics were not even close to being done. This was about XC15; and we were pushing back about XD45 for perspective of how 'close' they were to being done. As we finally get going; I get an ACARS asking me why we left late. I mean; come on; really?
An Air Carrier Captain reported after refusing an aircraft due to multiple maintenance issues the company did not do a good job coordinating the repairs and notifying appropriate personnel.