B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 131
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Company Policy; Procedure
We turned off the APU just before takeoff. In the descent we realized it had never turned off. Switch was not effective. In consultation with Maintenance Control; I explained I wanted to let it continue to run until after starting both engines; since a huffer was not readily available. MX Control convinced me it was not an irregular operation since a running APU; sometimes all day (one generator out operations; etc.) is normal. 'You can always shut it off with a Fire Handle. Write it up after letting them see if it really has a problem.' In [final destination] the bite check showed no failures; but the overhead switch was still ineffective. We should have put it in the book and just sat.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B737-700 flight crew reported noting in flight that the APU shutoff switch was not working. Maintenance recommended they continue on another leg; which they did; but the Captain stated he should have written it up and not continued.