Originally Posted by
pipe
I'm with you. All you do here is get rid of a second opinion by taking MX out of the loop.
I can think of a few times when I've looked up the MEL for MX while waiting for them to arrive. When they got there, I had decided on the wrong one to apply. I have also seen MX try to apply an MEL that I've disagreed with and we found that I had determined a more appropriate one.
The point is, there is a system of checks and balances if you keep MX involved. If you don't:
1) You're on your own with your safety and with the FAA
2) You'll soon have fewer stations with no MX because the company never sees airplanes stuck in the field.
PIPE
Don't know about what mason is talking about, but no flight crew placard goes without mx directly involved at either of the airlines I've worked at.. it's just remote. No pilot action for a deferral (when it's allowed) can be done without maintenance directing the action.