FAA ACI OBJECTED TO THE WAY THE CAPT BLOCKED THE SUN.

Narrative

ON AUG/MON/99; AT APPROX XA30 I WAS THE PF ON A COMMERCIAL FLT FROM ORD TO DEN. ABOUT 80-100 NM E OF ONL VOR AT CRUISE FLT THE PLANE LEFT THE SHADOW OF CLOUDS AND THE COCKPIT WAS FACING INTO THE SETTING SUN. I PUT ON MY SUNGLASSES AND PUT UP 1 SUN VISOR TO BLOCK THE BRIGHT LIGHT. THE CAPT PUT UP 2 SUN VISORS (1 BEHIND THE OTHER) AND THEN PUT A SECTIONAL CHART FROM THE DASHBOARD UP TO THE SUN VISORS. THE CHART WAS APPROX 10 INCHES WIDE AND 10 INCHES HIGH WHICH WAS HELD UP BY THE 2 SUN VISORS. RIGHT AFTER THE CAPT DID THAT AN FAA ACR INSPECTOR WHO WAS GIVING US A LINE CHK AND WAS RIDING IN THE FIRST OBSERVER'S SEAT SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF -- 'CAPT I DON'T THINK PUTTING THAT UP LIKE THAT IS A GOOD IDEA.' THE CAPT RESPONDED BY SAYING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR; 'WE ARE AT CRUISE ALT; WE HAVE ATC AND TCASII AND I CAN SEE AROUND BOTH SIDES WELL. I DON'T WANT TO GO BLIND BY LOOKING INTO THE SUN.' NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THE PART OF THE CAPT TO REMOVE THE SECTIONAL. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINS THE FAA INSPECTOR SAID; 'CAPT I FEEL YOU NEED TO TAKE THAT DOWN.' THE CAPT TURNED TO HIM AND SAID; 'YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME TAKE THAT DOWN?' THE INSPECTOR SAID; 'YES.' THE CAPT THEN WHIPPED DOWN THE SECTIONAL AND PROCEEDED TO PUT UP A 3RD SUN VISOR IN ITS SPOT. NOTHING MORE WAS SAID ABOUT THE ISSUE. AFTER THE SUN SET; ALL THE SUN VISORS WERE REMOVED AND THE FLT CONTINUED UNEVENTFULLY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 445667: THE FAA JUMP SEATER; HOWEVER; EXPRESSED HIS FEELINGS THAT THIS WAS AN UNSAFE SIT; AND THAT IF I DID NOT REMOVE THE CHART HE WOULD CONSIDER THIS A VIOLATION. IN RESPONSE TO THIS WARNING I REMOVED THE CHART AND USED SUN VISORS IN THE SAME SPOT TO BLOCK THE SUN AND GLARE. AFTER PARKING AT THE GATE AND BEFORE DEPLANING I WAS INFORMED BY THE FAA JUMP SEATER THAT HE CONSIDERED THE VISORS TO BE ALSO UNSAFE AND THAT A VIOLATION WOULD BE FILED.