AN AIRBUS ON AN OCEANIC RTE DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED TO ZZZ; FO; DUE TO ELECTRICAL ODOR AND SMOKE. ACFT INSPECTED AND RETURNED TO SVC BY AN UNQUALIFIED TECHNICIAN.

Narrative

EBOUND OF NEWFOUNDLAND ENRTE TO LHR; EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SMOKE IN COCKPIT. PERFORMED SMOKE REMOVAL PROCS TO EXTENT REQUIRED -- SMOKE DISSIPATED. CONSULTED MAINT TECHNICIAN VIA HF RADIO WHILE COORDINATING RETURN TO ZZZ; FO; AIRFIELD. WAS NECESSARY TO DECLARE EMER WITH ZZZ; FO; IN ORDER TO REVERSE COURSE; SO I DID. AT ZZZ; FO; MAINT PERSON PERFORMED LENGTHY INSPECTION OF ACFT INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR. I RECONSULTED WITH MAINT DURING SUCH; WAS TOLD THAT IF MAINT PERSON HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPER SIGNOFF OF MAINT LOGBOOK; HE SHOULD CALL MAINT FOR CLARIFICATION. WHEN I PASSED THIS ON TO THE MAINT PERSON; HE SAID 'YOU PUT THIS IN THE BOOK (INTERROGATORY).' I SAID 'OF COURSE I PUT THIS IN THE BOOK (EXCLAMATORY).' HE SAID THAT HE WAS NOT QUALIFIED TO SIGN OFF THE BOOK; BUT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO WAKE UP THE QUALIFIED PERSON. I SAID; 'THEN DO IT.' A SECOND MECH APPEARED WITHIN 1/2 HR AND REACCOMPLISHED ALL IDENTICAL INSPECTIONS HIMSELF. HE DID NOT MERELY PENCIL WHIP WHAT THE FIRST PERSON HAD DONE. AFTER ALMOST ANOTHER HR HE CONSULTED WITH MAINT AND SIGNED OFF THE LOGBOOK. I SPOKE WITH BOTH MECHS AT LENGTH ABOUT THE AIRBORNE EVENT AND ABOUT THEIR ANALYSES. I WAS SATISFIED ENOUGH WITH THE INSPECTIONS AND THE SIGNOFF TO CONTINUE THE TRIP. I AM NOW TOLD THAT THE COMPANY STATES THAT THE MAINT PERSON WHO PERFORMED THE SIGNOFF WAS UNQUALIFIED TO DO SO. AS DESCRIBED IN THIS NARRATIVE; I WAS MADE TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE AT THE TIME. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH MAINT DURING THE COURSE OF ALL OF IT.