Narrative:

I checked the emergency evacuate/evacuation lights in ZZZ. The 2 forward overwing exits did not illuminate. The aoa vane placards were missing; one had been buffed off; the right was 3/4 worn off. All were written up. The aoa vane placards were painted on with a paint brush. The mechanics worked on the lights. After 20 mins they were fixed and signed off. I checked the lights again in ZZZ1; the same 2 lights did not work. The mechanics worked for 2 hours on the lights. Replaced batteries and a blown fuse. I have had a lot of problems with these evacuate/evacuation lights in the past 6 months. The first thing I am asked is; 'why did you check them?' I check them because often they don't work. A mechanic told me they were not allowed to check them. They are only checked on 'B' checks. This is not often enough.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80'S EMER EXIT LIGHTS WERE INOP ON PREFLT AND AFTER A MAINT SIGNOFF WERE STILL INOP AT THE NEXT STATION.

Narrative: I CHKED THE EMER EVAC LIGHTS IN ZZZ. THE 2 FORWARD OVERWING EXITS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE AOA VANE PLACARDS WERE MISSING; ONE HAD BEEN BUFFED OFF; THE R WAS 3/4 WORN OFF. ALL WERE WRITTEN UP. THE AOA VANE PLACARDS WERE PAINTED ON WITH A PAINT BRUSH. THE MECHS WORKED ON THE LIGHTS. AFTER 20 MINS THEY WERE FIXED AND SIGNED OFF. I CHKED THE LIGHTS AGAIN IN ZZZ1; THE SAME 2 LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE MECHS WORKED FOR 2 HRS ON THE LIGHTS. REPLACED BATTERIES AND A BLOWN FUSE. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBS WITH THESE EVAC LIGHTS IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. THE FIRST THING I AM ASKED IS; 'WHY DID YOU CHK THEM?' I CHK THEM BECAUSE OFTEN THEY DON'T WORK. A MECH TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO CHK THEM. THEY ARE ONLY CHKED ON 'B' CHKS. THIS IS NOT OFTEN ENOUGH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.