Date: 201411
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: BWI.Airport, MD
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737-300
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Electrical Power
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Other / Unknown; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Pre-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors; Company Policy
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: During the flightdeck safety preflight; I performed a standby power check and the aircraft failed. The standby power Off light did not illuminate as well as the aircraft buss did not disconnect. I verified again that the light bulbs were OK and again preformed the standby power check with the same results. In many years as a Captain I have found about 11 or 12 aircraft that failed the checks. I was surprised that; a couple of years ago; the standby power and rudder checks were removed from the AOM preflight! After I wrestled with how to handle the discrepancy I decided not to write it up! This was due to the last one I found. After contacting Maintenance; someone there contacted the Chief Pilot's office. A short time later the Assistant Chief Pilot; showed up and asked what was going on? I explained about the failed check and I was asked why I preformed the check. After I explained my reasons he told me to stop doing those checks and writing everything up as I was causing lots of delays. I explained the FOM is clear on the Flight Crew responsibility.Aircraft Logbook Policy: It is mandatory that information recorded in the aircraft logbook is complete and as detailed as possible to adequately describe items that have affected or may affect the operation of the aircraft. When a flightdeck Crew Member; AMT; or Quality Control Inspector finds a defect on an in-service aircraft; the defect is documented in the aircraft logbook.Responsibility: Flight Deck Crew Members are responsible for recording all flight information; including aircraft numbers; flight numbers; Captain's and First Officer's names; Employee numbers; date; city pair; and mechanical defects encountered or observed during operation of the aircraft.Flight Deck Crew Responsibilities: DEFECT Used by Flight Deck Crews; AMTs; or Contract Mechanics to enter aircraft defects or items of information that are encountered or observed during the operation of the aircraft that require attention. He told me that 'If we didn't fly broke airplanes; we would push the aircraft off the gate in the morning and not fly them at all' which I replied 'That's the price we pay to fly old aircraft 'This conversation was held in the Jetway as he didn't want to say anything in front of my FO! Bottom line is if this is (Company) and the FAA's Polices and or Procedures then I believe the FOM & AOM should reflect the same! If this is Polices and or Procedures that apply to me; then I would like a letter in my file stating as such.




Synopsis: B737 Captain reports not writing up a Standby Power Check failure due to being admonished by the Chief Pilot on a previous occasion. The Standby power Check is no longer a flight crew function and is checked only by Maintenance.