B737-700 DISPATCHER WAS TOLD THAT ALL ACFT ON THE GND WERE NOT TO TAKE OFF BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE FUEL LEAKS IN THE WINGLET AREA. THE DISPATCHER ASKED ABOUT ACFT INFLT. HE WAS TOLD NOT TO CONTACT THE FLT CREWS; OR DIVERT ANY ACFT. THE DISPATCHER CONSIDERS THE CHIEF PLT'S ACTION A VIOLATION OF FARS REGARDING DISPATCHER'S RESPONSIBILITY.
Synopsis
B737-700 DISPATCHER WAS TOLD THAT ALL ACFT ON THE GND WERE NOT TO TAKE OFF BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE FUEL LEAKS IN THE WINGLET AREA. THE DISPATCHER ASKED ABOUT ACFT INFLT. HE WAS TOLD NOT TO CONTACT THE FLT CREWS; OR DIVERT ANY ACFT. THE DISPATCHER CONSIDERS THE CHIEF PLT'S ACTION A VIOLATION OF FARS REGARDING DISPATCHER'S RESPONSIBILITY.
Narrative
AROUND XA15 I WAS INFORMED THAT A PROB HAD BEEN DISCOVERED WITH THE -700 ACFT WITH WINGLETS. WE WERE TOLD NOT TO LET ANY OTHER -700 ACFT DEPART. HOWEVER; THE FLTS ENRTE WERE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE AFTER SEVERAL MINS OF QUESTIONING VARIOUS CHIEFS ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE PROB. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD REQUIRE A PRECAUTIONARY INSPECTION OF THE WINGLET INSTALLATION AND A DIVERSION WAS NOT NECESSARY. SEVERAL MINS LATER; I WAS GIVEN A PREPARED STATEMENT BY A CHIEF PLT; THAT STATED; PENDING A PRECAUTIONARY INSPECTION OF WINGLET INSTALLATIONS TURN OFF ALL NAV LIGHTS AND STROBES. I SENT THAT MESSAGE BY ACARS FOLLOWED BY A SECONDARY MESSAGE TO PLEASE CALL DISPATCH TO SPEAK TO A CHIEF PLT CONCERNING THE SIT. AT THE TIME THE MESSAGES WERE SENT; THE FLT WAS NEAR XXX. I ASKED ANOTHER CHIEF IF I SHOULD JUST DROP INTO YYY. THE ANSWER WAS 'IT'S AN (COMPANY) IMPOSED INSPECTION AND IT WOULDN'T BE NECESSARY.' I FEEL THAT MGMNT TOOK OPERATIONAL CTL OF MY FLT AND WITHHELD INFO FROM ME AND PLTS WHICH POSSIBLY PUT PAX AND CREW IN HARMS WAY. AFTER REVIEWING THE FARS; IT APPEARS THAT SEVERAL MAY HAVE BEEN VIOLATED SINCE NO EMER WAS DECLARED.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.