Introduction by Sofema Aviation ServicesĀ www.sassofia.com
A List of Effective Pages (LEP) will be used to ensure that each MEL is up-to-date. It must list the date of the last amendment for each page of the MEL. Transport will stamp and initial the List of Effective Pages to indicate the approval status of the contents of the MEL.Ā The date and revision status of each page of the MEL must correspond to that shown on the List of Effective Pages.
Table of Contents
The Table of Contents page shall list the section for each aircraft system utilizing the ATA 100 listing as found in the MMEL.
Pages will be numbered with the ATA system number followed by the item number for that system (e.g., the page following 27-2-1 would beĀ 27-2-2).
Mel Preamble
The Preamble provides direction to company personnel on the philosophy and use of the MEL. The Authority should publish a MMEL preamble for use by an operator.
An operator may choose to develop their own preamble but it must contain at least the information contained in the āAuthoritiesā version.
Notes and Definitions
Notes and Definitions are required to allow the user to interpret the MEL properly. Minimum required notes and definitions should be published by the āAuthorityā.
Additions and deletions to the notes and definitions may be applied to the operator’s MEL as required.
Operating and Maintenance Procedures
The operator must establish procedures in the company Operations Manual for the use and guidance of crew members when using the MEL. The procedures must agree with those in the Maintenance Control Manual. The operator may choose to include all procedures/instructions in the MEL itself; in which case the Operations Manual will only be required to reference this document
Dispatch with inoperative items is often acceptable only with the creation of special operating or maintenance procedures
Procedures recommended by the aircraft manufacturer can be used but the ultimate responsibility for providing acceptable procedures rests with the operator
Where the (O) or (M) symbols appear, an operating or maintenance procedure must be developed which provides clear direction to the crew members and maintenance personnel of the action to be taken. This procedure must be included in the MEL.
The only exception is when the procedure is contained in another document that is available:
Ā To the flight crew on the flight deck, such as an Aircraft Flight Manual, Aircraft Operating Manual, or the Company Operations Manual;
Ā To the flight attendants, such as a Company Operations Manual or Flight Attendant Manual;
Ā To the maintenance crew, such as an Aircraft Maintenance Manual (e.g. – the Airbus Aircraft Deactivation Procedures Manual), Maintenance Control Manual, etc.
In these cases, the MEL may refer to a section of the appropriate document.Ā Ā Manufacturers may choose to produce operating and maintenance procedures such as Dispatch Deviation Procedure Guides,(DDPG), to form part of the MEL.
DDGs and other similar documents should not be approved by the authority, nor can they replace the MEL. If the aircraft manufacturer has not published operating or maintenance procedures, the operator must develop appropriate procedures and submit them to the Authority for approval.
Sofema Aviation Services provides regulatory training including the use and developmentĀ of the MEL for details please seeĀ www.sassofia.comĀ or emailĀ office@sassofia.com
