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Minimum Equipment List (MEL)

Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL)
Article Information

Category: Airworthiness
Definitions
Content source: SKYbrary
A minimum equipment list (MEL) is a list which provides for the operation of aircraft,
subject to specified conditions, with particular equipment inoperative (which is) Content control: SKYbrary
prepared by an operator in conformity with, or more restrictive than, the MMEL
Publication Authority: SKYbrary
established for the aircraft type.

The master minimum equipment list (MMEL) is a list established for a particular aircraft type by the
organisation responsible for the type design with the approval of the State of Design which
identifies items which individually may be unserviceable at the commencement of a flight. The
MMEL may be associated with special operating conditions, limitations or procedures.

Source: ICAO Annex 6: Operation of Aircraft

Description
The MEL is approved by the operator's national airworthiness authorities.

The operator shall include in the operations manual a minimum equipment list (MEL), approved by
the State of the Operator which will enable the pilot-in-command to determine whether a flight may
be commenced or continued from any intermediate stop should any instrument, equipment or
systems become inoperative. Where the State of the Operator is not the State of Registry, the State
of the Operator shall ensure that the MEL does not affect the aeroplane’s compliance with the
airworthiness requirements applicable in the State of Registry. (ICAO Annex 6 Part I Chapter 6 Para
6.1.1)

An operator may not operate an aircraft which does not comply with the approved MEL, except with
the explicit permission of the Appropriate Regulatory Authority, usually the NAA. Such permission
will not be granted to allow the aircraft to operate outside conditions set by the corresponding
MMEL.

In most cases, multiple unserviceabilities of unrelated aircraft systems cannot be addressed by an

MMEL nor, therefore, by an MEL. The decision as to whether or not to accept for flight an aircraft
which has multiple unserviceabilities which would individually be allowable by MEL provisions
ultimately rests with the designated Aircraft Commander, subject to guidance promulgated on a
proactive or ad hoc basis by the aircraft operator.

In any case, if multiple unserviceabilities exist, the MEL should be consulted for each individual item
to check if there are any incompatibilities for each of the associated dispatch conditions.

European Regulations and supplementary information concerning the MEL for fixed wing air carrier
aircraft are contained in IR-OPS and EU-OPS. The FAA system is similar except that FAA considers an
approved MEL to be a Supplementary Type Certificate (STC) issued to a particular aircraft by serial
number and registration number as a way of providing authority to fly it in a condition other than
that at which it was originally type-certificated.

The MEL is entirely separate from the Configuration Deviation List (CDL), which is a list of secondary
airframe and engine components which may be recorded as missing for without prejudicing the
acceptance of an aircraft for flight.

Further Reading
A complete list of FAA current MMELs for all aircraft types (commercial and GA) from the FAA Flight
Standards Information Management System.
"Master Minimum Equipment Lists (MMEL) and Minimum Equipment Lists (MEL)", UK CAA CAP 549
ICAO Annex 6 Part I Attachment G
A Recall on the Correct Use of the MEL, an article in the Safety First magazine, #25, January 2018

EASA

ARO.OPS.205 Minimum equipment list approval

ORO.MLR.105 Minimum equipment list
CAT.IDE.A.105 Minimum equipment for flight

and associated Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material

EU-OPS 1.030/JAR-OPS 3.030

Categories: Airworthiness Enhancing Safety

This page was last edited on 28 October 2020, at 14:35.

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