MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST REQUIREMENT NOT COMPLIED WITH.

Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TKOF IN 11/88 I LOST MY AUTOMATIC PRESSURIZATION. MY F/O AND I RAN IT IN MANUAL ACCORDING TO THE ABNORMALS CHKLIST. AFTER WE GOT EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL I HAD HIM GO TO COMPANY FREQ TO ASK WHAT THEY WISHED US TO DO (CONTINUE OR COME BACK). OUR MAINT SUPVR STATED THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE MY FLT AND DEFER THE AUTO MODE PER STANDARD PRACTICE 450 AND THE MEL. AFTER I REACHED 10000' I GOT OUT BOTH MANUALS AND LEARNED THAT THE AUTO MODE COULD ONLY BE DEFERRED IF MAINT SECURED THE ELECTROPNEUMATIC OUTFLOW VALVES TO THE CLOSED POSITION. I CALLED MAINT ONCE AGAIN AND WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE. I THEN READ THE MEL TO THEM OVER THE RADIO AND WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE AGAIN. WHEN I GOT TO ALEXANDRIA; LA; I CALLED MAINT OVER THE PHONE AND WAS TOLD TO JUST 'FUDGE A LITTLE; DON'T WRITE IT UP AND FLY IT BACK.' WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IF THE FAA RODE JUMP SEAT; HIS REPLY WAS 'THEY WON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.' NEEDLESS TO SAY; I GNDED THE PLANE AND A MECH WAS THEN FLOWN OUT TO ESF. IN 11/88 I WAS CALLED INTO THE CHIEF PLT'S OFFICE BECAUSE I CANCELLED A ROUND TRIP. TO THIS DAY; THE PRESSURIZATION AUTO MODE IS STILL INOP AND HAS BEEN DEFERRED SO PLANES COULD RUN ON TIME DURING THE HOLIDAYS!