Can you go without that mechanics sign off in the logbook?
Simple question.
Look B19, we all see the point that you are trying to make. Yes, mechanics are important. No one here believes otherwise. No, we can't launch without the mechanics signature. Simple answer. But the correct answer which you argued against, is that the pilot in command is the final authority for the flight, and is responsible for the airworthiness of the aircraft. The FAR's state this, the point is irrefutable, and when you argue against this your other points, which are sometimes accurate, get lost in the glare of your mistake.
But you refuse to see this, because you seem to be blinded by what looks like anger toward all of us pilots. Who are you to accuse us of a "holier than thou" attitude? I mean, come on. I, for one, don't appreciate your condescending attitude toward us. This sort of problem is what drives a wedge between management and pilots.
You say we don't have the big picture? That's probably true. But we are where the rubber meets the road. We go face to face with the owners who pay your salary. And you don't have a clue how pilots sometimes save the company big headaches by smoothing waters that others have made rough. Yup, sometimes we fix mistakes made by management. We calm anger caused by what are sometimes completely preventable mistakes. We find economies in fuel pricing, hotel reservation, and occasionally even scheduling that save our companies big, big bucks. Money that management left on the table. We see plenty of other waste that we can't save, that we can only shake our heads at. And then we navigate an ever more complicated airspace through nearly all weather to deliver very precious families to fun airports like Eagle, Ocean Reef, and Monteray.
But we are capable of much more. You would be surprised by what you find in the cockpits these days. There are some tools, but most pilots I talk to have extensive experience outside of aviation, doing amazing things. It is a waste to underestimate people.
If you really work for a company that employs pilots, you would be doing yourself a favor to see them as a far greater resource than just performing the very complicated job that they already do. Instead of relegating pilots as functionaries to be backed into a corner with GOM's and FAR's, you should enable them to find solutions for some of the bigger problems that you face. They would surprise you. Your company would benefit, and you could stop preaching to us here, and we could all move along, exchanging useful info like adults.
Wacoflyr