Aircraft Dispatcher reported that they refused to authorize a ferry permit for an aircraft with maintenance discrepancies.
Synopsis
Aircraft Dispatcher reported that they refused to authorize a ferry permit for an aircraft with maintenance discrepancies.
Narrative
The manager on duty approached me and asked if I would be willing to take a look at possibly dispatching flight from ZZZ to ZZZ1. The paperwork was given to me along with 5 pages of maintenance discrepancies the plane needed fixed. The ferry flight was intended to get the plane to a place where these issues could be fixed before the plane was reintroduced into service. I examined the maintenance discrepancies and determined I was uncomfortable authorizing a ferry flight until those checks had been completed. I informed the manager of this and was requested to fill out a report stating my reservations. Specifically; those reservations concern four main points. First; every single fire bottle on the aircraft is listed as needing replacement. Second; the discrepancy pages show that calibration checks need to be carried out on the pitot static system; the air data computers; and the Integrated Standby Instrument. If one of these calibration checks needed doing it would be one thing but I do not believe a flight should be dispatched when both a primary system and the associated backup system are not completely reliable. Third; the crew oxygen bottle for at least one of the pilots was listed as needing replacement. Fourth; the Emergency Locator Transmitter is listed as needing a functional check. There were also noted requirements for replacement of emergency light power sources and functional checks of the transponder; but neither of these issues were a factor in my decision not to authorize the flight. In addition there is concern among other dispatchers who were asked to dispatch this flight and refused that the way this ferry flight was listed in the logbook may be illegal and no definitive legal opinion has been offered by management or maintenance whether this is true or not. Finally; this is not the first time this week that dispatchers have been asked to ferry this specific aircraft or other aircraft of similar circumstances. Concern was also expressed that it took a duty manager to authorize this ferry on behalf of maintenance; with dispatchers assuming that no maintenance controller other than the manager was willing to certify it was safe.Update: Flight was dispatched by another dispatcher later that day and had to return to gate due to a rejected takeoff due to some of the issues mentioned above. As of now personnel are being sent to ZZZ to carry out checks mentioned in the discrepancy list.Suggestion: Transport equipment and personnel to airport such that the as many required checks and replacements on all Company aircraft stored there before any further attempts are made to ferry any aircraft in similar conditions out. Issue authoritative guidance on whether the manner of logbook entries used on this flight are in keeping with the manuals and procedures of the Company.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.