FAA Advisory Circulars for MEL Compliance

MEL and Aircraft Dispatch Guidelines

AC 120-125 – Provides guidance on the use and approval of Minimum Equipment Lists (MELs) for commercial operators. It outlines procedures for MEL development, revision, and operational use to ensure regulatory compliance.

AC 20-154A – Establishes airworthiness and maintenance guidelines for MEL usage. It ensures operators understand how MELs interact with aircraft certification and operational requirements.

AC 91-67A – Provides MEL guidance for Part 91 (general aviation) operators. It explains how pilots and maintenance personnel should apply MEL procedures for non-commercial aircraft.

FAA MEL Policies and Oversight

MEL Policy and Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL)

MEL Policy Letters – Contains FAA policy letters addressing MEL compliance, exemptions, and procedural changes. These letters clarify FAA expectations and updates for MEL approval and implementation.

MMEL (Master Minimum Equipment List) – Serves as the foundational document from which individual MELs are derived. The MMEL lists the minimum equipment required for an aircraft type and is used as a template for MEL approvals.

FAA Legal Interpretations and Special Approvals

Legal Interpretations on MEL Use and Compliance

Murphy 2017 Legal Interpretation – Provides FAA legal guidance on MEL application and operational restrictions. It clarifies MEL authority and its role in determining aircraft airworthiness.

Powell 2011 Legal Interpretation – Discusses FAA legal interpretations regarding MEL deviations and compliance obligations. It ensures operators understand legal implications when using MEL procedures.

MEL Special Approvals and Relief Processes

STC Relief Approval Letters – Covers FAA-approved relief for Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) modifications in MEL applications. It ensures MEL compliance when aircraft modifications alter required equipment lists