A FOKKER 100 WAS DISPATCHED WITH A DEFERRED COCKPIT STABILIZER TRIM INDICATOR PER THE MEL BUT THE CREW EXPRESSES CONCERN ON DEPENDENCE OF LCL CONTRACT RAMP PERSONNEL TO ADVISE OF STABILIZER POS PRIOR TO DEP.

Narrative

I AM SENDING THIS RPT IN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS A SAFETY CONCERN WITH MEL XX-Y. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE TO BE ONE OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN. I WAS DISPATCHED FROM XXX THIS MORNING WITH SHIP XYZ. THIS ACFT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED THROUGH ZZZ. THE STABILIZER TRIM INDICATOR WAS PLACARDED INOP BY MEL XX-Y. IN ACCORDANCE WITH MEL XX-Y; THE STABILIZER TRIM POS MUST BE VISUALLY VERIFIED PRIOR TO TAXI BY GND PERSONNEL OR A COCKPIT CREW MEMBER. I SPENT 20 MINS COORDINATING WITH A HELPFUL STATION PERSONNEL DISPATCHER AND ACR TECHNICIAN FOR CONSULTATION. WITH AN EARLY LOAD CLOSEOUT IN HAND; MY FO AND I RELAYED BACK AND FORTH ON WALKIE TALKIES TO ARRIVE AT 2.8 UNITS NOSE UP. CONSIDERING THE THICKNESS OF THE BLACK STRIPES; IT IS DIFFICULT AT BEST TO DETERMINE AN EXACT 2.8 UNITS NOSE UP VERSUS 2.7 - 2.9 OR WORSE. SECOND CONCERN. WHAT QUALIFIES RAMP PERSONNEL -- CONTRACT AT THAT -- TO DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE BTWN SAY 2.0 UNITS NOSE UP VERSUS 2.0 UNITS NOSE DOWN? EVEN WITH PREDEP ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROVIDED; THE POTENTIAL STILL EXISTS FOR ERROR. A SHIFT CHANGE; GND DELAY; OR RAMP PERSONNEL JUST PASSING THE BUCK COULD BE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE A DELAYED ROTATION DURING TKOF WITH 2.0 UNITS NOSE DOWN VERSUS 2.0 UNITS NOSE UP -- ESPECIALLY FROM ZZZ. PERSONALLY; THIS SHOULD BE A NO-GO ITEM; OR AT LEAST A BLACK BORDER ITEM; WITH SEVERAL LIMITATIONS. AT THE VERY LEAST; COCKPIT CREW MEMBER VERIFICATION ONLY.