Guidelines for Producing a Minimum Equipment List

Guidelines for Producing a Minimum Equipment List

Introduction

These guidelines relate specifically to rules 91.537 Inoperative instruments and equipment and
91.539 Approval of minimum equipment list.

Before beginning any work on producing a Minimum Equipment List, it is advised that operators
read these guidelines and then contact Mr David Gill, Team Leader Airworthiness Certification
Tel: 0–4–560 9579.
 Guidelines for Producing a Minimum Equipment List

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – General
1.1 General .............................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Terminology ....................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Operating with or without an MEL ...................................................................... 1
1.4 Relationship between the MMEL and the MEL ................................................. 2

Chapter 2 – Operating aircraft without an MEL

2.1 CAR rule 91.537(b) ............................................................................................ 2
2.2 Decision making................................................................................................. 3

Chapter 3 – Operating aircraft with an MEL

3.1 MEL Approval.................................................................................................... 3
3.2 MEL Contents..................................................................................................... 3
3.3 MEL Procedures................................................................................................. 4
3.4 Conducting operations with an MEL................................................................... 5

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 Guidelines for Producing a Minimum Equipment List

Chapter 1 – General Operations (O) and maintenance (M)

procedures in the MMEL refer to specific
maintenance procedures the operator uses to
1.1 General disable or render items of equipment inoperative
A Minimum Equipment List (MEL) is a document and to specific operating conditions and
used by an operator to allow temporary aircraft limitations, as appropriate–
operation with inoperative equipment and is
approved under 21.539. The basic premise of (a) An (O) symbol in column 4 of the MMEL
the MEL is that, though it would be desirable to indicates that a specific operations
maintain the aircraft at all times with all installed procedure must be accomplished before
equipment operative, under controlled or during operation with the listed item
conditions an acceptable level of safety can be of equipment inoperative. The flight
maintained with specified items of equipment crew usually perform these procedures
inoperative until repairs or replacement can be but in some cases other personnel,
made. Controlled conditions may involve such as maintenance personnel, may
restrictions on certain flight operations, changes be qualified and authorised to perform
to in-flight operational procedures or temporary the procedure.
deactivation of components.
(b) An (M) symbol in column 4 of the MMEL
indicates that a specific maintenance
1.2 Terminology procedure must be performed before
Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM). The beginning an operation with the listed
AMM is the source document for maintenance item of equipment inoperative.
procedures for an aircraft. The term AMM can Maintenance personnel usually perform
apply to either an aeroplane maintenance these procedures but in some cases,
manual or a rotorcraft maintenance manual. other personnel, such as flight crew,
may be qualified and authorised to
Airworthiness Directive (AD) is a mandatory perform certain functions. Qualified
airworthiness requirement for a particular make maintenance personnel must perform
and model aircraft or installed equipment and is procedures requiring specialised
supplementary to the aircraft’s original knowledge, skills, or the use of tools or
airworthiness approval. test equipment.

Air Transportation Association (ATA) STC means Supplemental Type Certificate,

Numbering System is the standard ATA which is a major change in type design not great
numbering system which refers to systems on enough to require a new application for a type
different aircraft in a standardised manner. certificate under CAR Part 21. An example
MMELs use the ATA numbering system. would be the installation of a power plant
different from the one installed during type
Deferred rectification is the postponement of certification.
the repair or replacement of equipment or an
instrument. 1.3 Operating with or without an
MEL
Specific operations are operations such as
VFR, IFR, night, over water, in transponder 1.3.1 Part 91 makes a provision for
mandatory airspace and the like. operations with inoperative instruments and
equipment in accordance with an MEL and also
Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) is a that aircraft not exceeding 5700 kg MCTOW
list of items of equipment and instruments that may operate without an MEL. Some aircraft
may be inoperative on a specific type of aircraft operators may find it less onerous or
under stated conditions and is the basis for the complicated to operate without an MEL. An
development of an operator’s MEL. The MMEL operator operating aircraft not exceeding 5700
is approved by the aircraft’s certificating kg MCTOW under Part 91 should carefully
authority and issued by them or the aircraft consider the MEL option to determine which
manufacturer. method best suits their type of operation.

Minimum Equipment List (MEL) is the specific 1.3.2 Operations conducted under CAR Parts
inoperative equipment document for a particular 121, 125 or 135 do not have the option of
make and model of aircraft by serial number operating with an inoperative instrument or
and registration marks. equipment without an MEL.

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 Guidelines for Producing a Minimum Equipment List

1.3.3 Once an operator has an approved MEL to the MEL and submit it to the CAA for
for an aircraft, that operator may not exercise approval.
the option of operating that aircraft without an
MEL when conducting Part 91 operations. This 1.4.5 As the FARs are the basic airworthiness
is because the MEL will usually make provision standards called up by CAR Part 21 Appendix
for all types of operations and any inoperability C, the most commonly applicable MMEL is the
not covered by the MEL would not be FAA one, which is controlled and issued directly
acceptable under §91.537(b). by the FAA. The Authority can provide New
Zealand operators with copies of the FAA MMEL
1.4 Relationship between the as a Word document on a computer disc.
MMEL and the MEL 1.4.6 The FAA produces MMELs for all twin-
1.4.1 When an aircraft is certificated, the engined aircraft and all turbine-powered aircraft,
airworthiness regulatory authority determines including helicopters. The FAA have also
the minimum operative instruments and produced a generic MMEL applicable to single-
equipment required for safe flight in that aircraft engined aircraft. However due to the lack of
type in each authorised operating environment duplicated systems and equipment required for
and develops a Master Minimum Equipment single-engine aircraft certification this MMEL is
List. The FAA MMEL for a specific model is limited to basically optional equipment fitted.
developed by the Flight Operations Evaluation
Board (FOEB) responsible for that particular 1.4.7 For aircraft which are type certificated
type of aircraft, under the philosophy that the by other than the FAA the MMEL will be that
failure of any of the instruments or items of approved by the certification authority of that
equipment required or installed in the aircraft aircraft type. In that case the MMEL may be
must be compensated by other factors which issued by the aircraft manufacturer.
provide an acceptable level of safety or further
flights must be suspended until repairs or Chapter 2 – Operating aircraft
replacements can be made. without an MEL
1.4.2 The MMEL approved by the certification
authority includes all items of equipment and 2.1 CAR rule 91.537(b)
other items which the authority finds may be
Operators and pilots who elect to operate an
inoperative and yet maintain an acceptable level
aircraft under Part 91 without an MEL must be
of safety. The MMEL does not contain obviously
familiar with this rule in detail and base their
required items such as wings, flaps, rudders and
decision making on the rule which prescribes
the like. The MMEL is then made available to
that–
operators as a basis for them to apply for an
MEL approval. Aircraft that do not exceed 5700 kg MCTOW
and do not have an MEL approved under 91.539
1.4.3 An MEL is similar in content to the
may be operated under this Part with inoperative
MMEL except that it is specific to a particular
instruments and equipment provided the
operator and to individual aircraft. An operator's
inoperative instruments and equipment—
MEL must be based on the MMEL for the
particular aircraft type and model which has (a) are not—
been approved by the certificating authority
which issued the type certificate used as the (i) part of the VFR day certification
basis for type acceptance in NZ. An MEL may instruments and equipment
not be less restrictive than the applicable MMEL. prescribed in the applicable
(An MEL is an authorised deviation from the airworthiness requirements under
certificated type design, not a reversion to the which the aircraft was type
minimum requirements. The FAA wording is "An certificated; or
Approved MEL constitutes an approved change
to the type design without requiring (ii) required by this Subpart for
recertification.") specific operations; or
1.4.4 Operators are responsible for ensuring (iii) required by an airworthiness
that the MEL reflects the current MMEL. If an directive to be in operable
operator identifies that an amended MMEL condition; and
requires in turn an amendment to the MEL, the
operator should prepare an appropriate revision

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 Guidelines for Producing a Minimum Equipment List

(b) are placarded Inoperative and the 3.1.2 Operators who have previously had an
required maintenance recorded in MEL approved under Regulation 108(2) will
accordance with Part 43. have to revise the MEL to include any changes
to NZ regulatory requirements brought in under
2.2 Decision making the new Rules. (Parts 26, 91, 121, 125, 129, 133
or 135.)
2.2.1 If an item of equipment or an instrument
is found to be inoperative the determination as 3.1.3 An application for an MEL approval or
to whether the aircraft is serviceable for an revision must be made by completing form CAA
operation must be in terms of the rule 24091/01 and submitting it to the Director, along
requirement. The operator evaluating the with a copy of the draft MEL.
inoperative item must ensure it is not required
either by Part 91 Subpart F, paragraphs 91.501 3.1.4 An MEL will only be approved for a
through 91.545, or as part of the basic particular operator and will apply to a specific
equipment fit of the aircraft required to meet make and model of aircraft. In the situation
original certification requirements. An example where more than one operator has operational
of the latter is that FAA policy requires a two- control of a specific aircraft, the MEL for that
engine aircraft to have two electrical power particular aircraft may be approved for more
systems so that after a single in-flight electrical than one operator.
power system failure sufficient instruments and
equipment remain fully operational to provide 3.1.5 The CAA may issue operators who use
navigation, communications, and aircraft several aircraft of the same type a single MEL
operations and monitoring. For these purposes that either lists each aircraft by serial and
battery power may not be considered a power registration numbers, or details the difference in
source. Therefore two-engine aircraft cannot be equipment fit between aircraft within the MEL. If
dispatched with one generator inoperative, even the operator fleet is listed in the MEL the
under an MEL, unless it has an APU installed operator must submit a revision to the MEL
and operative in flight. (The policy was prompted whenever an aircraft is added or removed from
by several accidents resulting from dispatch with the fleet.
one generator inoperative and the in-flight failure
of the other generator.) 3.1.6 At any time after operating with an MEL,
an operator may elect to operate without an
2.2.2 If the decision is that the aircraft is MEL under 91.537(b). In such a case, the
airworthy, you are reminded that 91.537(b)(2) operator must request CAA to revoke the MEL,
requires the inoperative item to be placarded and receive advice that the MEL has been
Inoperative and the required maintenance revoked, prior to operating under 91.537(b).
recorded in accordance with Part 43.
3.2 MEL Contents
2.2.3 Another consideration in the decision
making process is to determine if the inoperative 3.2.1 To produce a NZ operator's MEL the
item might affect the operation of any other applicable FAA, CAA or manufacturer's
items. An example would be in the case of a Approved MMEL must be amended to reflect NZ
vertical speed indicator (VSI) determined not to requirements. Approval will be facilitated if the
be required for a VFR flight. The cause for the exact wording of the MMEL is followed to the
VSI being inoperative could be that there is a greatest possible extent. An Operator's MEL
malfunction in the static system in which case may not be less restrictive than the Approved
the other instruments relying on this system MMEL, unless the change is fully substantiated
could also be inoperative. If in doubt in such a as meeting airworthiness requirements and
case refer it to an LAME or maintenance FOEB policy guidelines.
organisation.
3.2.2 MELs may be submitted as Appendices
to an Operator’s Maintenance or Operations
Chapter 3 – Operating aircraft Manuals, but they will be assessed and
with an MEL approved as documents in their own right.

3.2.2 The operator should consider the

3.1 MEL Approval following when preparing an MEL–
3.1.1 An operator who either must or elects to
operate with an MEL is required to have the (a) The title page of the MEL should contain
MEL approved under 91.539. a statement that the MEL is applicable
to operations conducted under CAR

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 Guidelines for Producing a Minimum Equipment List

Part(s) number(s) 91, 121, 133 or 135 MEL page must be numbered such that
as applicable; and its revision status can be readily
determined by reference to the LEP and
(b) Also contain a statement that the MEL is so amendments can be readily
based on the MMEL at a stated revision incorporated.
date, and has been approved in
accordance with CAR 91.539. (b) Log of Revisions with space to list the
revisions to the MEL, their date and a
(c) Operators must ensure that the MEL summary of the changes embodied.
lists the items of equipment that are
actually installed on the specific aircraft (c) Preamble (or Introduction) that details
(Or covers differences between the general philosophy and conditions
individual aircraft, if the MEL is applicable to operating the aircraft in
applicable to more than one aircraft). accordance with the provisions of that
particular operators' MEL. The
(d) Equipment specifically required by the operator's MEL Preamble should follow
airworthiness rule under which the the wording of the MMEL exactly,
aircraft is type certificated, equipment except where it is changed to include
required by AD, and equipment required reference to NZ Regulations and the NZ
for specific operations under the CAR’s CAA in place of Federal Regulations
must be operative. It is important to note and the FAA.
that all items related to the airworthiness
of the aircraft that are not included on (d) List of Definitions explaining the terms
the MMEL must be operative. or expressions used in the MEL, again
exactly as per the MMEL but changed to
(e) Where the MMEL states "as required by reflect NZ Regulations where applicable.
FAR," the MEL should specify the exact Any terms in the MMEL that are not
conditions under which the item can be used in the MEL may be deleted.
inoperative in NZ, as determined by the
Rules. (e) The basic text of the MEL with items in
order by ATA Chapter Number, as per
(f) The MEL must specify suitable the MMEL. The pages of the MEL
limitations in the form of placards, containing the equipment lists must be
maintenance procedures, crew laid out such that each item of
operating procedures, and other equipment is clearly identified, and:
restrictions to ensure an acceptable
level of safety. · the number fitted to the aircraft and
the minimum number required for
(g) The MEL must specify those conditions despatch are listed; and
under which an item may be inoperative.
The remarks must also identify required · the conditions applying to the
maintenance or operational tasks. The operation of the aircraft with that
symbol "O" or "M", placed in column 4 of particular item inoperative are clearly
the MMEL indicates that an (O) or (M) annotated; and
procedure is applicable to that item.
· the repair category which applies to
(h) The MEL may not conflict with the AFM that item is noted in the appropriate
limitations or emergency procedures, column.
any ADs, or the AMM.
3.3 MEL Procedures
3.2.3 An Operator’s MEL should have the
following minimum contents in the order listed 3.3.1 Where (O) or (M) procedures, as
below: defined in the Definitions section of the MMEL,
are called up in the MEL they must be published
(a) List of effective pages (LEP) giving the and be available as part of the MEL. (Because
date and revision status of each the certification authority when compiling the
individual page. The LEP defines the MMEL will have identified these procedures as
MEL and CAA approval of the MEL will required to be carried out to maintain the
be stamped here. The revision status of acceptable level of safety)
the MMEL on which the MEL was based
should also be stated on the LEP. Each

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 Guidelines for Producing a Minimum Equipment List

3.3.2 (O) or (M) procedures are not approved · procedures for certification of cleared
but rather are accepted when the technical MEL items;
content is assessed as satisfactory.
· and instructions for placarding of
3.3.3 The MMEL contains guidelines as to inoperative or removed items.
what the required (O) and (M) procedures are
intended to accomplish. The procedure in the These procedures may either be contained in
MEL should detail the full actions required and the operator’s existing suite of manuals, or can
not merely repeat the intent as given in the be located in the MEL itself.
MMEL.
3.4 Conducting operations with an
3.3.4 The operator should develop O and M
MEL
procedures using guidance provided in the
manufacturer’s– 3.4.1 In addition to carrying a copy of the MEL
onboard the aircraft, the operator must have
(a) DDPG; onboard any technical manuals needed to
accomplish (O) and (M) procedures.
(b) aircraft flight and/or maintenance
manuals; 3.4.2 Inoperative Items Before Flight. As an
example, during a pre-flight inspection for a
(c) recommendations; VFR-day flight, the pilot discovers a navigation
light is inoperative. In such a case the sequence
(d) engineering specifications; or of events should be–
(e) other appropriate sources. (a) The pilot checks the aircraft's MEL to
determine under what, if any, flight
3.3.5 If the (O) and (M) procedures are
conditions the aircraft could be operated
already stated in the AFM, the maintenance
without navigation lights. The MEL
manual, or other available Authority-approved
indicates that the aircraft may be
source, the operator needs to show only the
operated during daylight hours without
reference, such as, O: AFM, pp. 3-8 through 3-
operable navigation lights.
10, paragraph. 3-47. If the operator uses this
reference format in the MEL, the referenced (b) The pilot checks the procedures
source must be readily available to the ground document and deactivates the
support personnel, and a copy of the references navigation lights by pulling the correct
source must be carried in the aircraft and be circuit breaker and having it collared by
readily available to the flight crew member. an appropriately certificated person.
3.3.6 If the (O) and (M) procedures are not in (c) The pilot places a placard that indicates
the AFM, the maintenance manual, or other that the lights are inoperative near the
available Authority-approved source, or if the navigation light control.
operator wishes to use a different procedure,
then the operator must list the procedure in the (d) The pilot examines the conditions of the
MEL. The procedure will have to be drafted by proposed flight and determines that the
the operator and must utilise sound operating flight can be completed during daylight
and engineering techniques. hours and thus be conducted safely
without navigation lights.
3.3.7 There must be instructions governing
the use of the MEL including; 3.4.3 Failures during flight. An MEL applies
only to the take-off of an aircraft with inoperative
· procedures for authorising personnel instruments or equipment. The pilot's operating
to defer maintenance in accordance handbook or the AFM indicate procedures to
with the MEL; follow for instrument or equipment failure in
flight. The pilot in command should handle the
· procedures for advising the pilot in
in-flight failure in accordance with those
command of any inoperative or
procedures. As soon as possible after landing,
removed items prior to a flight;
the pilot-in-command must enter a notation of
the inoperative equipment in the aircraft's
· procedures for control of deferred
maintenance records, logbooks, or the technical
items;
log. Before the next takeoff, the pilot must apply
the MEL to the inoperative equipment as per the

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 Guidelines for Producing a Minimum Equipment List

procedures in paragraph 3.5.2. above. An MEL 3.4.6 Aircraft Used in Multiple Operations.
allows the pilot-in-command to defer rectification If an aircraft is to be operated under several
on many items under the following conditions: CAR Parts such as 121 or 135 in addition to
Part 91, the operator may–
(a) The aircraft is in a condition for safe
flight, and (a) establish the MEL for compliance with
the more restrictive requirements of the
(b) For the inoperative item, the pilot has likes of CAR Parts 121 and 135; or
followed the specific conditions,
limitations, and procedures in an (b) address the specific requirement of
approved MEL . each CAR Part in the MEL.

3.4.4 Correcting MEL Inoperative Items.

The MEL permits operations with inoperative
items of equipment for the minimum period of
time necessary until the equipment is repaired. It
is important that operators have repairs done at
the earliest opportunity in order to return the
aircraft to its design level of safety and reliability.

(a) Operators shall establish procedures to

ensure inoperative items are repaired or
replaced within the specified time
requirements in the MEL. MEL items are
assigned Repair Category Intervals in
accordance with the MMEL.

(b) Under Part 91 operations the MMEL

Repair Categories are not applicable.
Items of inoperative equipment,
approved by the MEL to be inoperative,
must be inspected or repaired by
qualified maintenance personnel, or
maintenance deferred, at the next 100
hour, annual, progressive, or
unscheduled inspection.

3.4.5 Record-keeping Requirements. A

record of inoperative equipment must remain in
the aircraft technical log or the aircraft
maintenance record so that pilots will be aware
of all discrepancies; and

(a) If the operator elects to use the aircraft

maintenance record to log inoperative
items, that portion of the record must be
carried onboard the aircraft during all
operations.

(b) Corrective actions and maintenance

procedures shall be accomplished and
recorded in accordance with CAR 43
and 91.

(c) Failure to record an inoperative item in

the technical log may result in an
operation of the aircraft contrary to the
CAR because subsequent pilots would
not be able to determine the
airworthiness of the aircraft.