MD80 captain reports that cabin emergency exit lighting often cannot be activated using the cockpit ...

Narrative:

With the new requirement that MD80 crews check the emergency exit lights during preflight; I have found that the majority of the aisle lights will not come on. The overhead lights work; but the aisle lights will not come on using the cockpit switch. They will come on using the number 1 flight att switch at the forward exit door. Sometimes; after turning them on then off using the flight attendant switch; they will come on with the cockpit switch; but not all the time. I think; due to lack of use; the switch contacts in the cockpit emergency lights switch are oxidized and need to be cleaned or replaced. If I had a fire and needed to get people out of my aircraft at night; in the dark; most of my aircraft aisle lights would not come on by turning my emergency lights switch to on. I suggest a fleet wide look at these switches on overnights.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 Captain reports that cabin emergency exit lighting often cannot be activated using the cockpit switch but will test using the Flight Attendant switch.

Narrative: With the new requirement that MD80 crews check the EMER exit lights during preflight; I have found that the majority of the aisle lights will NOT come on. The overhead lights work; but the aisle lights will not come on using the cockpit switch. They will come on using the Number 1 Flight ATT switch at the forward exit door. Sometimes; after turning them on then off using the FA switch; they will come on with the cockpit switch; but not all the time. I think; due to lack of use; the switch contacts in the cockpit EMER lights switch are oxidized and need to be cleaned or replaced. If I had a fire and needed to get people out of my aircraft at night; in the dark; most of my aircraft aisle lights would NOT come on by turning my EMER lights switch to ON. I suggest a fleet wide look at these switches on overnights.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1054831
Time
Date	201212
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Component
Aircraft Component	Emergency Exit Lighting
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

MD80 captain reports that cabin emergency exit lighting often cannot be activated using the cockpit switch but will test using the flight attendant switch.