Date: 201406
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
ATC / advisory: Ramp ZZZ
Aircraft component: Cockpit Window
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Human factors: Physiological - Other; Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Troubleshooting
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Procedure; Aircraft; Company Policy
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Day 1; leg 1. APU on MEL. We (the whole crew) arrive at the aircraft and it is already very warm; despite the early hour (and relatively low temps for an early summer day).  There was no air hooked up to the plane for aircraft.  As we; the flight crew; situate in the cockpit; both of us reach to open the DV windows for ventilation.  My (right side/First Officer window) was nearly impossible to operate/open-after repeated attempts.  I got out of my seat and asked my Captain to try to get it open. He had some difficulty but was finally able to get it open.  Neither of us were comfortable with the difficulty operating an emergency egress window. He called Maintenance and wrote it up.  Maintenance showed up with a bottle of LPS (1 or 2; not sure which) and proceeded to spray what seemed like a half of a bottle; at least (based on visuals & residual odor in the flight deck).  The door continued to be difficult to open. Maintenance invited me; the First Officer; to try it again. No real change in my estimation. It still took 2 hands; 1 foot on the panel and all my strength to move it one iota. That is not how it is designed; I am pretty sure.  However; Maintenance 'Ops checked [it] good' in the logbook. At this point; in utter frustration; I invited one of the mechanics working with us to walk with me to the aircraft at the neighboring gate to watch me operate a properly functioning egress window.  I sat down on the right seat of the aircraft; and with my right arm; alone; (without effort) opened and closed the window 3 times. He agreed there was a difference; but since they had already 'Ops checked good' he was wanting to wash his hands (proverbially) of this. Now; it was an issue of Maintenance clearing the discrepancy.  Then; Maintenance sent a female Mechanic (VERY relevant because I am a female First Officer) to 'try and operate the door.' As though I simply might not be able to do it on my own; being a woman. Well; I take objection to that very subtle sexism because I have been a licensed Commercial Pilot since the 1990's and this is my second airline and I have 2 type ratings.  I was MORE than insulted by that.  She; as I; was able to open it with both hands and all her weight; but when I challenged her to do it with one hand; she could not. And; unfortunately; I think she was frustrated and/or feeling pressured to acquiesce to her mission (albeit; I have no idea if that was from Maintenance; Scheduling; or Dispatch and/or all of them).The issue is Maintenance not wanting to deal with legitimate issues; particularly with an older fleet.  And occasionally; (not all stations) the discounting of crew concerns. We are all on our own. It seems more and more like that every day.




Synopsis: An EMB-145 First Officer's window was very difficult to open; so Maintenance lubricated it; signed it off; and then refused to do more even though the actions taken did not improve the windows functioning.