Which document provides explicit authorization to operate with inoperative equipment?

Which document provides explicit authorization to operate with inoperative equipment?

• A. MEL
• B. Engineering Order
• C. Service Bulletin
• D. Captain's approval

Answer: (A)

The Minimum Equipment List (MEL) provides explicit authorization to operate with inoperative equipment. It specifies exactly which items may be inoperative, the conditions and time limits for continued operation, and the procedures the crew must follow to mitigate risk. The MEL is based on the MMEL and is approved by the aviation authority, giving dispatch authority to fly with certain inoperative equipment within defined limits. The other documents don’t offer this formal, fleet-wide authorization: an Engineering Order directs engineering actions, a Service Bulletin is a manufacturer’s advisory, and a captain’s approval alone does not constitute the required official authorization to operate with equipment inoperative. If an item isn’t listed on the MEL, the aircraft cannot be dispatched with it inoperative.

The Minimum Equipment List (MEL) provides explicit authorization to operate with inoperative equipment. It specifies exactly which items may be inoperative, the conditions and time limits for continued operation, and the procedures the crew must follow to mitigate risk. The MEL is based on the MMEL and is approved by the aviation authority, giving dispatch authority to fly with certain inoperative equipment within defined limits. The other documents don’t offer this formal, fleet-wide authorization: an Engineering Order directs engineering actions, a Service Bulletin is a manufacturer’s advisory, and a captain’s approval alone does not constitute the required official authorization to operate with equipment inoperative. If an item isn’t listed on the MEL, the aircraft cannot be dispatched with it inoperative.