A320 Flight Crew reported refusing an aircraft for a partially inoperative PA system that maintenance attempted to defer via MEL. The crew did not believe the deferral is legal and maintenance takes five minutes to correct the problem once the aircraft is refused; plus the two hours it took to argue the issue.
Synopsis
A320 Flight Crew reported refusing an aircraft for a partially inoperative PA system that maintenance attempted to defer via MEL. The crew did not believe the deferral is legal and maintenance takes five minutes to correct the problem once the aircraft is refused; plus the two hours it took to argue the issue.
Narrative
Inbound flight made a writeup that PA and flight attendant call chimes were inaudible in the forward galley area. Maintenance came on and deferred the chimes. MEL stated PA must operate normally. They contended that it did and it was only a speaker problem. I contended that the speaker was part of the system. They disagreed. Maintenance Control was contacted and stated that they thought that the PA did work normally because it could be heard in the back. They told me to write the PA up and I did. The new MEL stated that the call chimes had to work normally. Up to this writing; nothing mechanically has been done. Per conversation with Maintenance Control and Dispatch; Maintenance Control contends that per MEL that I can use the interphone to take this plane if I establish chime or PA contact with the aft flt attendants who will call the forward flt attendant; (I don't know how) who will then call me. I had to refuse the aircraft because none of this appears to comply with the intent of the MEL to me.
Second reporter narrative
The maintenance crew was holding firm that their interpretation of the MEL was 'good enough for them'; even though it violated both the literal and logical interpretation of the MEL placard. The mechanical issue was clear; the PA was inoperative in the front of the aircraft; as was the cabin chime. It was an easy fix. The canon plug on the speaker had become disconnected and; after the Captain and I both refused to fly the aircraft in such a condition; the speaker was fixed in less than 5 minutes; after maintenance argued for over two hours insisting that they didn't need to look at it any further. In my 14 years with this company (and 36 years as a professional pilot); I have never seen such an egregious disregard for regulations and fundamental safety principles. The maintenance personnel were on a clear mission to 'get the airplane off the gate'; without any regard to its legality or safety implications.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.