FLC OF AN MLG RETURNED AND LANDED AFTER THE NOSE GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT DUE TO THE NOSE GEAR GND LOCK PIN LEFT INSTALLED.

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PLAIN AND SIMPLE; WE TOOK OFF THE OTHER MORNING WITH THE NOSE GEAR PIN INSTALLED. SINCE I DO READ NASA RPTS; WHAT IMMEDIATELY CAME TO MIND WAS MY LEAST FAVORITE PHRASE FROM THE FAA; 'CARELESS AND RECKLESS MANNER.' I HAD RECENTLY READ A NASA RPT THAT WAS IDENTICAL TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME AND I WAS VERY UNHAPPY; TO SAY THE LEAST. MAINT HAD INSTALLED 1 PIN; THE NOSE GEAR PIN AND HAD TAXIED THE ACFT TO THE GATE. THE FO DID AN EXTERIOR WALK AROUND AND I; AS THE CAPT SQUEEZED THE GEAR PIN POUCH WHICH FELT NORMAL. IN ADDITION; ON PUSHBACK A QUALIFIED MAINT MAN PULLED THE STEERING PIN FROM THE NOSE GEAR WHEEL WELL AND FAILED TO SEE THE 'FLAG.' STATISTICALLY SPEAKING WE WERE '0' FOR 3. I SUGGEST THE 'FLAGS' ON GEAR PINS BE CHANGED IN COLOR AND LENGTH/WIDTH. I SUGGEST THE STREAMERS BE A NEON ORANGE/LIME GREEN AND HANG TO A LEVEL WELL BELOW THE FUSELAGE. (THIS AS OPPOSED TO THE RED FLAGS/STREAMERS THAT ARE ONLY BLACK AND BLEND IN WITH ACFT) IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA THAT IF 1 GEAR IS 'PINNED;' PIN THEM UP AND MAKE A NOTE OF IT IN THE LOGBOOK OR THE GEAR PIN POUCH.