Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Other / Unknown; Situational Awareness
No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Aircraft; Human Factors; MEL
[This report concerns] a flight with an inoperative windscreen wiper.  Captain and I both agreed the flight could not be flown safely due to weather in the destination area reported as a temporary probability of rain showers.  The Dispatcher and Maintenance was notified and minutes later a Chief pilot appeared at the aircraft and questioned our decision about operating the flight.  The Chief Pilot then stated that the only visibility concerns associated with a broken windscreen wiper would be limited visibility during ground operations and we would just have to operate with more caution. I questioned the limited visibility during an instrument approach and landing and identifying the runway environment.  The Chief Pilot stated that in his experience rain during landing has never created a visibility issue and the Captain would have to fly both legs of the trip since the First Officer's side wiper was inoperative.  After continuing to state our concerns and the Chief Pilot not budging on the visibility not being a factor in the rain; the Captain and I agreed with the Chief Pilot to take the flight.  The threat was forward visibility in the rain showers due to the inoperative wiper.  The error made was giving in to the pressure put on the Captain and me by Maintenance and the Chief Pilot; after initially refusing the aircraft due to safety concerns.  The flight was conducted without any known deviations.
CRJ-200 First Officer reports an aircraft refusal for an inoperative windscreen wiper.  The crew is chastised by a Chief Pilot and eventually the crew agrees to accept the aircraft with the First Officer's wiper on MEL.