Global Express (BD700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70; Flight Crew Total 4600; Flight Crew Type 150
Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Manuals; MEL; Logbook Entry; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy
This is an Operator/paperwork issue. The outer pane of the aircraft was discovered to have cracked. A Bombardier Engineer was dispatched to the aircraft and applied 'Speed Tape' to the affected area for flight to the aircraft's Home Base for repair. The aircraft was flown at 250 KTS; 26;000 FT with a higher cabin to lower the pressure. Both inner and middle pane was intact and 100%. The Windshield Heat was functional. The Engineer; Director of Maintenance; and Operator all stated that the outer pane is not structural; not affected by the MEL in any way; shape or form (only inner and middle panes) and flyable with [Speed] tape to the Home Base for repair. I asked if a Ferry Permit was needed and told without question that it was definitely not. The Director of the company also stated that the Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) assigned as oversight to the operation in our departure airport; stated no [Ferry] Permit was required.Being that it was a weekend; I tried to ascertain as much information as possible to verify this. I know the Bombardier Challenger series have windshield issues similar to the Global Express BD-700 series aircraft and therefore understood the reasoning and similarity considering the Manufacturer. The Director of Maintenance (DOM) has extensive experience with Challenger and Global Express aircraft and therefore I have little doubt in his knowledge. My problem as a pilot and not an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Technician; is that not all information is available either online; hotline; or elsewhere to assist a pilot in situations like this. I put my trust in those who do specialize in this area; but sometimes get the feeling that they are not being truthful with myself in this case; or the crews to generalize. Deliberately placing me or a crew in harms way would be reckless on his part.
Reporter stated a major issue with accepting the aircraft for further flight; was the fact that all parties who stated the aircraft was OK to fly with Speed Tape over the cracked areas; would not; did not; or could not come up with any technical references that stated what the crack limitations were on the Captain's forward windshield to allow continued flight. That was all he was looking for; because all he had were individuals saying the aircraft was OK to fly non-revenue service to their Home Base for repairs. With so many people telling him they were right; the aircraft was good to go even without a Ferry Permit; he departed; they flew low and slow.Reporter stated there is nowhere for pilots to go to get unbiased information about aircraft airworthiness concerns in situations similar to what he recently experienced. He has been told more than once that if the Airworthiness Release (A/R) is signed-off; he doesn't need to know anything else. But on a separate incident a few months back; an A/R had been signed-off only to find out later after his flight had departed and landed; that three MELs were still open. If he; or the Captain; or both had refused the aircraft with the cracked windshield; they would have been fired on the spot.
First Officer reports that pilots do not have any place or resource to go to get unbiased information about Airworthiness concerns of their aircraft. An outer pane of a Captain's forward windshield was found cracked on their BBD-700 aircraft; Speed Tape was applied. An Engineer; the Director of Maintenance (DOM); Director of Operations and Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) OK'd the aircraft to be flown to Home Base without any technical data.