Date: 201509
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737-700
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Aircraft Furnishing
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Equipment / Tooling; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: I arrived early at gate the Agent advised me of sidewall vent had been discovered unsecure by overnight Contract Cleaners and advised me Ground Supervisor had discussed this with Dispatch and Maintenance and concluded he should tape up the vent cover and tell me to MEL it. I recalled the Ops Binder mandates Maintenance inspection of vent for dangerous items and that Contract MX is not close by. I located the material (hard to find) and called my Dispatcher (no jet way phone; had no choice but to call from the Passenger waiting area; which is awkward) and discussed my concern with Dispatch and Duty Control; who had never heard of the earlier conversation and commented that these were very ambiguous issues. Duty was willing to MEL after looking at the list of NEF (Nonessential Equipment and Furnishings) items in the appendix (also hard to locate). Essentially his position was that the Ops Binder says MX is required if the fasteners (plural with an s) are missing but only one was missing and he contended that the 'M' procedures in the appendix (number 21 under NEF) could be performed by Flight Crew. This is a possible but slippery interpretation. We MEL'd. Everyone from Gate Agent; to F/O (First Officer); to F/As (Flight Attendants) had a comment about their recent experience with the same with some folks maintaining that the previous Captain taped it up and launched and others having waited for Maintenance inspection. No one seems to focus on the intent of this rule; making sure no devices might be on board to threaten security and safety. The guidance refers to security taped vents and/or screwed in vents. I determined we had the latter and saw a screw hole taped over. The Ground Agent approached and was obsessed that he had written the names of those he spoke with to the point it was hard to drag out of him the specifics of the state in which he found the vent (displaced; loose; tight but unscrewed - it makes a difference). I thanked him for being proactive and tried to explain the details were more helpful to me than conversations he had with a Dispatcher (neither the one who drew my papers nor the one following my flight but rather a Dispatch Supervisor) and the Duty Controller from the previous shift. I am uncomfortable enough with Flight Crew performing 'M' items; much less a Ramp Supervisor without any guidance or supervision by a licensed Pilot or Mechanic. He was indignant that a mere Pilot was getting involved in a function he considered solely controlled by his local Manager. We did MEL the item and amended the Release and continued uneventfully (pushing on time). I'm not sure it was appropriate or wise.Fix Ops Binder guidance. Improve sidewall vent securing system. Eliminate overboard security practices. Simplify MEL. Improve Station Manager/Ground Ops guidance on authority and responsibility of licensed Captain; Dispatcher; and Maintenance versus others. Hire Contract Maintenance closer than one hour.




Synopsis: B737-700 Captain is informed that a side wall vent was found unsecured by the cleaners and the Ground Supervisor discussed it with maintenance. It was determined that the vent would be taped in position and the Captain could MEL it. The Captain is not happy with this arrangement and believes maintenance should be called causing a delay. In the end the vent is MEL'd and the flight departs on time.