**Executive Summary**
The document outlines proposed amendments to CAR Section 2 Series B Part I – Minimum Equipment List (MEL). It specifies how deleted and new/amended text will be indicated within the document. Revisions to the MEL must be submitted to the respective Airworthiness Office for approval within 30 days of either the issue of the related DDPG, or the issue of the MMEL revision, dependent on whether the aircraft has a DDPG issued.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment Text Indicators:**
* Deleted text is marked with strikethrough.
* New or amended text is highlighted in grey.
* **MEL Submission Requirements:**
* The MEL (in duplicate) and a copy of the MMEL must be submitted to the Regional Airworthiness Office (RAO) for approval.
* The MEL and its revisions must conform to the latest revision of MMEL.
* The MMEL revision number must be indicated on the MEL.
* **MEL Scrutiny and Approval:**
* The head of RAO submits the MEL to the assigned FOI for further scrutiny from an operational angle.
* After being satisfied that the proposed MEL meets the MMEL and DGCA regulatory provisions, the MEL shall be approved by the Regional office.
* **MEL Revision Approval Timeline:**
* Aircraft for which the DDPG is issued: Proposed revision in MEL shall be submitted within 30 days of issue of the related DDPG.
* Aircraft for which the DDPG is not issued: Proposed revision in MEL shall be submitted within 30 days of issue of the MMEL revision.
* **MEL Availability:**
* A copy of the approved MEL shall be carried on board the aircraft as part of the Operations Manual.
**Impact Analysis**
**Operators**
* **Impact:** Must understand and adhere to the updated amendment requirements, submission procedures, and approval timelines for the MEL.
* **Action Required:** Ensure MELs and revisions are prepared and submitted according to the updated requirements, specifically regarding the 30-day submission deadline from either the DDPG or MMEL revision.
**Regional Airworthiness Office (RAO)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for reviewing and approving MELs and revisions based on the updated requirements.
* **Action Required:** Scrutinize MELs for conformance to the latest MMEL revision, ensure adherence to regulatory provisions, and manage the approval process according to the specified timelines.
**Flight Operations Inspectors (FOI)**
* **Impact:** Required to scrutinize MELs from an operational angle.
* **Action Required:** Perform scrutiny and provide feedback as part of the MEL approval process, ensuring operational considerations are addressed.
Key Entities Referenced
Minimum Equipment List (MEL): A list of aircraft equipment that can be inoperative for a flight to commence, subject to specified conditions.
Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL): A list established by the applicable aircraft operating design approval holder approved by the State of Design containing items of equipment that may be inoperative at the commencement of a flight.
Civil Aviation Requirements: Regulations governing civil aviation safety, including airworthiness requirements.
Regional Airworthiness Office (RAO): A regional office responsible for ensuring airworthiness and compliance with regulations.
DGCA: Regulatory authority responsible for civil aviation safety.
CAR Section 2 Series B Part I – Minimum Equipment List (MEL) is proposed to be amended. The
proposed amendments are shown in subsequent effected paragraphs.
The text of the amendment is arranged to show deleted text, new or amended text as shown
below:
(a) deleted text is marked with strikethrough;
(b) new or amended text is highlighted in grey.CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS SECTION 2 – AIRWORTHINESS
SERIES ‘B’ PART I 21ST AUGUST, 1990
3.6 For items not included in the MMEL, but forming part of the MEL, due justification
for the same shall be provided by the operator.
3.7 The operators MEL shall also include the relevant definitions and
abbreviations.
4. Approval of MEL
4.1 The MEL (in duplicate) along with a copy of the MMEL shall be submitted to the
Regional Airworthiness Office (RAO) at the station, where the aircraft is mainly
based for approval. While submitting the MEL and its revisions for approval, the
operator shall ensure that these conform to the latest revision of MMEL. The MMEL
revision number shall be indicated on the MEL.
4.2 After scrutiny, the head of RAO shall submit the MEL to the assigned FOI for further
scrutiny from operational angle. The MEL cases, where the operator is based in a
sub-regional office shall, after thorough scrutiny from the airworthiness angle, be
forwarded to RAO for scrutiny by FOI.
4.3 Any deficiency noticed during scrutiny either by Airworthiness office or FOI shall be
referred to the operator by the RAO for corrective action.
4.4 On being satisfied that the proposed MEL meets the MMEL and DGCA regulatory
provisions from maintenance and operational aspects, the MEL shall be approved
by the Regional office under intimation to the DGCA Headquarters (Attn.
Airworthiness Directorate) along with a copy of approved MEL.
4.5 Approval of any revision/ amendment to the MEL shall be done following the same
procedure as given above. The proposed revision in MEL shall be submitted to
respective Airworthiness Office for approval within 30 days after receipt of MMEL
revision.
4.5 Approval of any revision/ amendment to the MEL shall be done following the same
procedure as given above. The proposed revision in MEL shall be submitted to
respective Airworthiness Office for approval within the time period as specified
below:
(a) Aircraft for which the DDPG is issued – Within 30 days of issue of the related
DDPG;
(b) Aircraft for which DDPG is not issued – Within 30 days of issue of the MMEL
revision.
Note:- The extension of applicability of MEL to include same type of aircraft having
similar configuration may be done through temporary revision. However in case of
any change in the MEL item for such aircraft, the MEL requires approval.
4.6 A copy of the approved MEL shall be carried on board the aircraft as part of the
Operations Manual. The manual will contain procedures for continuation of flight
should any items of equipment required for operation of flight become
unserviceable.
Rev 7 dated __January 2022
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