FLC OPERATED AN MLG WITHOUT MAINT SIGN-OFF IN THE ACFT LOG FOR A DEFERRED MAINT DISCREPANCY.

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WHILE DEALING WITH A MAINT DISCREPANCY AND WHILE TALKING TO THE MAINT CTLR AND FLT DISPATCHER; WE WERE GIVEN DISPATCHER APPROVAL AND WERE ASSURED BY MAINT CTL THAT WE WERE AUTH TO INSTALL AN MCO PLACARD IN THE LOGBOOK TO DEFER MAINT ON AN ITEM. AFTER DISPATCH (WITH APPROVAL) WE REFERRED IN GREATER DEPTH TO OUR POLICY MANUAL AND DETERMINED THAT MAINT WAS REQUIRED TO SIGN THE RELEASE AND PLACARD THE ITEM BECAUSE WE WERE AT A MAINT STATION. DUE THE TIME PRESSURES WE WERE ASSURED THAT EVERYTHING WAS LEGAL AND SINCE IT WAS DEP TIME WE DISPATCHED. ALSO; DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE INDUSTRY AND PRESSURE FOR PRODUCING A PROFIT; MANY OF OUR PERSONNEL; WITH THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE; ARE BEING REPLACED WITH THOSE OF INADEQUATE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN ADDITION TO A REDUCTION IN STAFF. THIS CONTINUED PRESSURE TO 'DO MORE WITH LESS' AND THE CONTINUED CORPORATE PRESSURE TO PRODUCE RESULTS AT ANY COST IS HAVING A DIRECT EFFECT ON THE 'SAFETY FACTOR' THAT HAS BEEN AN ENVY OF THE INDUSTRY. I HOPE THIS TREND WILL NOT CONTINUE.