Originally Posted by
aviatorhi
I encourage everyone to perform their jobs to the best of their ability, my only "complaint"/"concern" is the fact that lack of an AP appears to be the only reason that this flight didn't go... I can think of several outfits that fly 727s and 737s that routinely go without APs or FDs into similar, or worse, weather because as pilots they don't come up with reasons not to go, but try, to the best of their ability, to get a job done. Did you stop to think that this isn't a concern about PIC authority and more about doing/not doing your job, one could easily call PIC authority in rejecting every single aircraft that has an MEL on it etc. etc., where does PIC authority end and where does doing/not doing your job begin?
As pilots we choose who we work for and what conditions we fly in....If you are with a company that does not have A/C with proper functioning A/P and you decide as PIC to fly that A/C that is your call as CA. IF a B747-400 CA decides to fly across the pond on three engines that his call, and his assesment of the issue. CA authority should always be that! Don't let anyone or company strip you of that right. The day you bend metal, that company is not going to stand by yourside even though they said "just fly the damn thing" WHY DO WE BRING EACH OTHER DOWN INSTEAD OF STANDING STRONG AS A GROUP IN THESE PROFESSION AND BRING BACK STANDARDS!!