MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST (MEL)

Ever imagined, while you fly on that beautiful aircraft getting all the pictures from window seat or having a coffee in the aisle, the aircraft is already having some of the systems or instruments failed with defect and damage?

Sub rule 5 of rule 60 of Aircraft Rule 1937, states that no aircraft shall be released for flight with defects or damage unless these are covered in Minimum Equipment List prepared by the operator based on Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL), which is more restrictive than MEL.

MEL items can be categorized as:

1. Category A : Must be repaired within given time interval

2. Category B : Repaired within 3 calender days

3. Category C : Repaired within 10 calender days

4. Category D : Repaired within 120 calender days

It should not include wings, flight controls, complete engines or such structures or systems whose correct functioning is absolutely necessary, which also should not include Passenger Entertainment Systems, convenience equipment, galley equipment, etc.

Approval

1. The operator shall submit a certificate that the MEL has been prepared in consultation with the operations department.

2. The MEL (in duplicate) along with a copy of the MEL shall be submitted to Regional Airworthiness Office (RAO)

3. After  scrutiny,  the  head  of  RAO  shall  submit  the  MEL  to  the  assigned  FOI  for  further scrutiny  from  operational  angle.

4. Any  deficiency  noticed  during  scrutiny  either  by  Airworthiness  office  or  FOI  shall  be referred to the operator by the  RAO for corrective action.

5. On  being  satisfied  that  the  proposed  MEL  meets  the  MMEL  and  DGCA  regulatory provisions from maintenance  and operational  aspects,  the  MEL shall  be  approved by the  Regional  office  under  intimation  to  the  DGCA  Headquarters along with a copy  of  approved MEL.

6. Approval  of  any  revision/  amendment  to  the  MEL  shall  be  done  following  the  same procedure  as  given  above.  The  proposed  revision  in  MEL  shall  be  submitted  to respective  Airworthiness  Office  for  approval  within  30  days  after  receipt  of  MMEL revision.

Use of MEL

Notwithstanding  the  MEL,  an  AME  need  not  certify  the  aircraft  for  ‘Flight’  or  a  Pilot need  not accept the aircraft for flight if it is considered that it is unsafe to do so.

The  AME  responsible  for  releasing  the  aircraft,  after  invoking  the  provisions  of  MEL shall inform  the Pilot of  the aircraft  of  the same, and also make a mention  of  it  in  the technical  log  and  placard  the  inoperative  system  suitably.

And don’t worry, if some of the instruments or systems are defective/damaged.

We always got a Backup option.

Have a safe landing!

Note: This is not a philosophy which permits reduced safety but to fly to a base  where repairs can be made, rather a philosophy which permits safe operation for a take off from a maintenance base.