FLC DILEMMA IN DECIDING DIRECTION TO TAKE IN ACCEPTANCE OF ACFT WITH EQUIP PROBLEM AFTER CONSIDERATION OF MEL REQUIREMENTS; WX FACTORS OF ENRTE WX AND MORAL JUDGEMENTS OF AIRLINE MGMNT POLICY OF PLACING PRESSURE ON FLC TO TAKE ACFT IN SAID CONDITION.

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ON AN LGT THAT WE WERE TO TAKE FROM IAH-PTY; THE #3 GENERATOR WAS PLACARDED INOP. THE CAPT FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS PLACARD DUE TO ENRTE AND DEST WX; AND LACK OF SUITABLE ALTERNATES. (WHICH WOULD BE NECESSARY IF A SECOND GENERATOR SHOULD FAIL ENRTE). THE CAPT REQUESTED THAT THE #3 GENERATOR BE REPAIRED PRIOR TO DISPATCH DUE TO THE AFORE MENTIONED CONDITIONS; ALTHOUGH THE MEL ALLOWS DISPATCH WITH ONE GENERATOR INOP. MAINT INITIALLY ESTIMATED APPROX 5 HRS REPAIR TIME. WHEN THIS INFO WAS PASSED TO THE CREW COORDINATOR; THE CAPT WAS INFORMED (BY THE CREW COORDINATOR); THAT IF HE WOULDN'T TAKE THE ACFT AS IS; THAT HE WOULD BE REPLACED BY A STANDBY CALLOUT CAPT WHO WOULD ACCEPT THE DISPATCH. THE CAPT INFORMED THE COPLT AND MYSELF THAT IT THEN IS OUR INDIVIDUAL DISCRETION WHETHER OR NOT WE WANTED TO FLY THIS AIRPLANE WITH A STANDBY CAPT; WHO OBVIOUSLY HAS A LESS CONSERVATIVE VIEW POINT. I VERY MUCH DISLIKED THE LEGAL AND MORAL POS THAT THIS PUT ME IN! BY NOW A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CHIEF PLT'S OFFICE HAD ARRIVED AND SUMMED UP BY SAYING 'EITHER YOU TAKE THIS ACFT AS IS OR WE CANCEL THE FLT.' OUR AIRLINE HAS NO UNION; AND THIS PRESENTS A DILEMMA BTWN POSSIBLY LOSING YOUR JOB AND CAREER (WITH NO RECOURSE) VS DOING WHAT YOU FEEL IS PROPER. THE CAPT THEN PRIVATELY ASKED THE COPLT AND MYSELF FOR OUR OPINIONS. THE FIRST AND I BOTH CONCURRED THAT THE FLT WAS TECHNICALLY LEGAL ACCORDING TO THE MEL AND THAT WE WERE COMFORTABLE IN GOING. WE ALSO CONCURRED THAT WE WOULD SUPPORT THE CAPT IF HE SHOULD OPT FOR A MORE CONSERVATIVE PATH; AND NOT FLY WITH THE STANDBY CAPT. OUR CAPT ACCEPTED THE ACFT AS-IS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I FEEL WE WERE SAFE IN THIS INSTANCE; HOWEVER THERE IS UNDUE PRESSURE TO GO AGAINST THE CONSERVATIVE JUDGEMENT OF THE PIC.