MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST HANDLING

I.

PURPOSE
To provide guidelines for personnel / division in handling the Minimum Equipment List item in
order to facilitate rectification of a problem in aircraft system and component.

II.

DESCRIPTION
When there is need to rectify problem on aircraft system/component, but the required part is
not available in stock, rectification may be deferred based on the Repair Interval Limitation of
the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines approved Minimum Equipment List. Entry of
deferred Maintenance Item under MEL is made on an MEL item Index located on the top of
aircraft logbook. The yellow copy of the logbook entry (maintenance/cabin) is retained in a
plastic insert in the aircraft logbook until the problem is rectified. Repair Interval limitation or
Category shall be specified in the Minimum Equipment List Item Index. Repair time limits
are monitored by Plane Crew Chief. Upon availability of required part, problem rectification is
carried out by Maintenance without delay. Corrective action is reflected in aircraft logbook.
Minimum Equipment List Item Index is updated. Discrepancy stated in yellow copy is
corrected, signed and stamped and routed to Production Control.

III. DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES

A. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE
1. Rectify defects entered in Aircraft Logbooks as reported by the Flight Crew
or revealed during ground inspection. In case of rectification, defer the
action in accordance with the customers aircraft MEL procedures and
restriction.
2. Makes entry of deferred Maintenance item in Minimum Equipment List
Item Index in Aircraft Maintenance or Cabin Logbook. Specify the Category
of discrepancy.
3. Insert yellow copy of the log book sheet with the uncorrected discrepancy
in plastic envelope in the logbook.
4. Prepares necessary documents for removal and installation of the affected
component.
5. Initiates Corrective action for discrepant aircraft system/component as
soon as the required parts become available.

B. PLANE CREW CHIEF

1. Responsible for MEL and Deferred Maintenance Items tracking to ensure
that all parties involved are kept informed to comply with their due dates.

C. PRODUCTION PLANNING AND CONTROL

1. Monitor MEL and CDL clearing
2. Responsible in coordinating with SIAEC regarding in ordering parts
requested by MCC or Maintenance for MEL, CDL ,ADD requirements
3. Perform close monitoring and follow-up on all outstanding parts ordered
especially those considered CRITICAL items (MEL/AOG).
4. Responsible in checking and preloading of available parts for Routine and
non-Routine (MEL, CDL, and ADD) task.

5. Assigned newly arrived parts as to where should the specific item/part be utilized,
whether ADD and MEL.

D. TECHNICAL RECORDS CONTROLLER

1. Check the completeness of accomplished of turn-over aircraft documents during inhouse maintenance check by production control personnel. A company record of
these documents shall be maintained.
2. Attached the yellow copy of the logbook entry to the white copy after the Minimum
Equipment List has been rectified.
While the MMEL is for an aircraft type, the MEL is tailored to the operators specific aircraft
and operating environment and may be dependent upon the route structure, geographical
location and number of airports where spares and maintenance capability are available etc.

It is the air operators responsibility to develop Operation O

and Maintenance M procedure, or to use manufacturer
development Operation and Maintenance procedure manual, a
Dispatch Deviation Procedure Guide (DDPG) Manual, Dispatch
Deviation Guide (DDG) , or other equivalent document where
these procedure are available.
Air operators currently using an approved company MEL or in
the process of amending or developing a new MEL must
ensure that all regulatory reference are in accordance with the
countrys Regulations and Standards.

M.E.L. Intent
Expect authorized, operation of an aircraft with equipment
inoperative or removed is prohibited unless an operator does
so in compliance with an approved MEL.
M.E.L. Limitations
The content of an operators approved MEL cannot be less
restrictive than the content of the source MMEL for that aircraft
type.
M.M.E.L. Status

The operator must ensure that they use the latest version of the
source of MMEL to develop their MEL. The countrys regulating
body reserves the right to add an overriding limitation.
M.M.E.L. Acquisition
Approved MMELs may be acquired from the foreign Civil
Aviation Authority. Alternative, operators may obtain MMELS
directly from the manufacturer, who will normally provide
MMELs along with a revision service. It is the responsibility of
the operator to provide a complete set of source MMEL
documents to the country regulating body and also ensure a
proper revision service.

Audit of Operators MEL

The CAAP will audit the operators conformance to MEL
requirements on an ongoing basis, and as part of any company
audit. Significant non-conformance may result in the MEL
approval being withdrawn.
MEL Updates
It is the operators responsibility to ensure that their MEL is
reviewed and update as required. It should be reviewed at least
annually to ensure that it incorporates any changes to the
operation of the aircraft.
M.E.L. Contents
a. List of Effective Pages (LEP)
The LEP is used to ensure that each MEL is up to date. It must
list the date to last revision for each page. The date and
revision status of each page of the MEL must correspond with
what is shown on the LEP.

b. Revision Control Page

The revision control page is a record of revision that have been
carried out in the MEL and should contain the revision date and
the signature of the person who carried out the revision. The
page indicates the current revision status of the MEL.
c. Table of Contents
The Table of Contents page list the section for each aircraft
system, normally using the ATA numbering system, normally
using ATA numbering system, as found in the MMEL.
d. Chapter and Page Numbering
It is preferable to use Ata numbering system and sequence
number as given in the MMEL. Number pages with ATA system
number followed by the page number for that system. (the
following 27- 2-2 would be 27-2-2)
e. Minimum Equipment List Preamble
The purpose of the MEL Preamble is to provide general
direction to company personnel on the philosophy and use of
MEL.
f. Notes and Definition
Notes and definition are required to allow the user to interpret
the MEL properly. Notes and definition utilized in the MMEL are
to be used in the MEL where applicable, together with any
additional ones the document for an operators particular
requirement

OPERATING and MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

a. Dispatch with inoperative item is often acceptable only

with the creation of special operating or maintenance
procedures.
b. Where the MMEL indicates that this is the case, the
operator must establish, publish and obtain approval for
appropriate procedures. Procedures recommended by the
aircraft manufacturer in most cases can be adopted for
this purpose, but the ultimate responsibility for providing
acceptable procedures to approved in the MEL rest with
the operator. These procedures will ensure that a
satisfactory level of safety will be maintained.
c. The operator when comparing the MEL against the MMEL
must ensure that where the (O) or (M) symbols appear, an
operating or maintenance procedure has been developed
that provides clear direction to the crew members and
maintenance personnel of the action to be taken. This
procedure must be included in the MEL.
d. The only exception is when the procedure is contained in
another document that is available :
1. To the flight crew on the flight deck, such as an Aircraft
Flight Manual , Aircraft Operating Manual, or the
Company Operation manual;

2. To the flight attendants, such as a Company Operation

Manual or Flight Attendant Manual;
3. To the maintenance crew, such as an Aircraft
Maintenance Manual (e.g. Airbus Aircraft Deactivation
Procedure Manual), Maintenance Control Manual, etc.
In these cases, the MEL may refer to a section of the
appropriate document.
It is not acceptable to reference the Civil Aviation
Regulation or similar document, as these are not
carried on the board the aircraft and could be
subject to misinterpretation. The objective is to
provide with clear, concise direction on how they
are to proceed. Where the MMEL column 4 states
as required by the Regulation, this wording shall
not appear in the MEL; rather, a synopsis of the
Regulation shall appear.

Approval of Operating and Maintenance Procedures

Manufacturers may choose to procedure operating and
maintenance procedures as Dispatch Deviation Procedure
Guides, for use by the operators. These procedure may be
inserted into appropriate MEL pages, and submitted by the
operator, to form part of the MEL. Dispatch Deviation Guides,
Dispatch Deviation Procedure Guides and other similar
documents cannot be approved by a countrys aviation
regulating body, nor can they replace the MEL. If the aircraft
manufacturer develop appropriate procedures and submit them
to an aviation regulating body for approval.
Operation Manual Procedures

The operator must establish procedures in the company

Operation Manual for the use and guidance of the crew
members when using the MEL. The procedures agree with
those in the Maintenance Control Manual. The operator may
choose to include all procedures/instructions in the MEL itself.;
in which cause the Operation Manual will only be required to
reference the document.