CAPT OF MD80 BOUND FOR MDW REFUSES ACFT HE DEEMED UNACCEPTABLE FOR FLT DUE TO INOP AUTOMATIC PRESSURIZATION CTL.

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AIRPLANE AND MISSION INCOMPATIBLE. CAPT RETURNING FROM VACATION HASN'T FLOWN IN 26 DAYS -- SLIGHTLY RUSTY. AIRPLANE HAS AUTO PRESSURIZATION INOP. MANUAL OP REQUIRED FULL TIME JOB. FO RELATIVELY NEW TO AIRPLANE HAVING BEEN DISPLACED FROM B767 -- NEVER FLOWN INTO MIDWAY; NEVER USED MANUAL PRESSURIZATION. SCHEDULED FOR MIDWAY ARPT -- 6400 FT RWY. WX AT MDW FORECAST 600 FT OVCST AND 2 MI. CURRENT 300 FT OVCST AND 2 MI INTERMITTENT; 200 FT OVCST AND 1/2 MI. CAPT FELT LIKE HE WAS READING HIS POST-ACCIDENT RPT AND DECIDED THE ABOVE SIT WAS UNSAFE. HE REJECTED THIS AIRPLANE FOR THIS FLT AND ASKED FOR ANOTHER. IN SUMMARY; I FEEL ASSIGNING A MANUAL PRESSURIZATION CTL ACFT TO A MISSION WITH SHORT RWY AND IFR WX IS DANGEROUS. THERE SHOULD BE A SYS IN PLACE TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF PAIRING. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR ADVISED THAT HE HAS RECEIVED NO NEGATIVE RESPONSE FROM HIS COMPANY REGARDING HIS DECISION. HE HAD SUBMITTED THE RPT NOT BECAUSE HE FELT ANY JEOPARDY REGARDING HIS DECISION BUT SOLELY BECAUSE HE FELT IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM THE COMPANY OF THE REASONS FOR HIS DECISION.