Date: 201302
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Nose Gear Tire
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Pre-flight
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Procedure; Company Policy; Aircraft
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: This report is submitted as evidence of a very poorly managed and extremely bad policy implemented by Flight Management and Maintenance Management at [this] airline. Effective June 2012; Flight Management rescinded the requirement for pilots to check Tire Pressure Gages on the External Preflight.February 2013 morning; I began normal preflight duties at the gate on an MD-80 aircraft. As I began the external preflight; I observed what appeared to be two; new; nose wheel tires installed on the nose gear. While acutely aware of Flight Management's Directive of; not checking the tire pressure gauges; I decided that since gages were installed on the new tires; the safe and prudent action would be to verify the pressure on the gages. As I approached the tires; I noted that both tires 'looked' exactly the same in size and shape; with no noticeable differences or abnormalities. Upon close inspection I saw the left tire gage indicated a normal 160-PSI while the right tire gauge indicated about 60-PSI.I was quite surprised and alarmed at the different readings especially in light of the June 2012 Directive. I decided to call Maintenance personnel out to verify the tire pressures on the new nose tires. When the Maintenance Technician arrived; I went down to observe his verification of the tire pressures. Upon testing the right nose tire; he stood up and said; 'We have some issues here!' He then proceeded to order two new; nose tires to be installed.In my 13-years of flying the MD-80s at [this airline]; this is the 5th occurrence for me of finding a 'flat' tire during external preflight. This is my first report for this type of event; as we have never been encouraged to report this type of problem to Flight Management; and now they are planning to remove all tire pressure gages from all fleets. This can only be described as a desire by Management to strip a Safety Check away from the pilots operating the aircraft. I believe that five possible aircraft incidents were prevented during my MD-80 career by [my] inspecting tire pressure gages on preflight! Surely the FAA will not approve/allow [my airline] to continue removing tire pressure gages from all aircraft! My personal experience in this matter scares me; in that I cannot believe Flight Management could demonstrate such a callous disregard for a vitally important safety item for pilots and passengers. I implore you to decide for yourself if [this Airline's] policies and procedures are providing required safety margins for the traveling public. Please require tire pressure gauges on all of our aircraft.

Callback: Reporter stated all tire pressure gages on all their aircraft will be removed as the tire and wheel assemblies are recycled through their Company or Contract Vendor Tire Shops.



Synopsis: A First Officer expresses his concerns about his Air Carrier's policy of removing tire pressure gages from all of their aircraft wheel and tire assemblies. He also believes tire pressure gages helped prevent five incidences from occurring; due to low tire pressures that could not be noticed by just looking at the tires.