Attach_1_Appendix_I__UC-35_Minimum_Equipment_List_(2015-05-05).doc

N00019-15-R-0106

Appendix I 05 May 2015

UC-35C/D MINIMUM EQUIPMENT LIST (MEL)

The following MEL is applicable to the UC-35C/D aircraft. When using the MEL, Unit Commanders, Maintenance Personnel, Aircraft Commanders shall comply with the stated intent of the preamble, definitions, and the conditions and limitations specified in the MEL.

All equipment installed on the aircraft must be operative. However, this MEL is published to list items where compliance with certain equipment requirements is not necessary in the interests of safety under all operating conditions. Experience has shown that with the various levels of redundancy designed into aircraft, operation of every system or installed component may not be necessary when the remaining operative equipment can provide an acceptable level of safety. This MEL has been developed, to improve aircraft utilization. This MEL includes those items of equipment related to airworthiness and operating regulations and other items of equipment which may be inoperative and yet maintain an acceptable level of safety by appropriate conditions and limitations; it does not contain obviously required items such as wings, flaps, and rudders.

Equipment not required by the operation being conducted and equipment in excess of FAR or OPNAV requirements are included in the MEL with appropriate conditions and limitations. Use of the MEL does not allow for the deviation from NATOPS Limitations, or Emergency Procedures. It is important to remember that all equipment related to the airworthiness and operating regulations of the aircraft not listed on the MEL must be operative.

Suitable conditions and limitations in the form of maintenance procedures, crew operating procedures and other restrictions as necessary are specified in the MEL to ensure that an acceptable level of safety is maintained.

The MEL is intended to permit operation with inoperative items of equipment for a period of time until repairs can be accomplished. It is important that repairs be accomplished at the earliest opportunity. In order to maintain an acceptable level of safety and reliability the MEL establishes limitations on the duration of and conditions for operation with inoperative equipment.

The MEL provides for release of the aircraft for flight with inoperative equipment. When an item of equipment is discovered to be inoperative, it is reported by making an entry in the Aircraft Maintenance Record/Logbook. The item is then either repaired or may be deferred per the MEL. MEL conditions and limitations do not relieve the Transport Aircraft Commander from determining that the aircraft is in a condition for safe operation with items of equipment inoperative.

Unit Commanders, Maintenance Personnel, and Aircraft Commanders are responsible for exercising the necessary operational control to ensure that an acceptable level of safety is maintained. When operating with multiple inoperative items, the interrelationships between those items and the effect on aircraft operation and crew workload shall be considered.

Minimum Equipment List Definitions

1. System numbers are based on the Air Transport Association (ATA) Specification Number 100 and items are numbered sequentially.

a. "Item" (Column 1) means the equipment, system, component, or function listed in the "Item" column.

b. "Number Installed" (Column 2) is the number (quantity) of items normally installed in the aircraft. This number represents the aircraft configuration considered in developing this MEL. Should the number be a variable (e.g., passenger cabin items), a number is not required.

c. "Number Required for Dispatch" (Column 3) is the minimum number (quantity) of items required for operation provided the conditions specified in Column 4 are met.

d. "Remarks or Exceptions" (Column 4) in this column includes a statement either prohibiting or permitting operation with a specific number of limitations for such operation, and appropriate notes.

2. "Airplane/Rotorcraft Flight Manual" (AFM/RFM) is the document required for type certification and approved by the responsible FAA Aircraft Certification Office. The FAA approved AFM/RFM for the specific aircraft is listed on the applicable Type Certificate Data Sheet.

3. "As required by FAR, ICAO or OPNAV" means that the listed item is subject to certain provisions (restrictive or permissive) expressed in the Federal Aviation Regulations, the International Civilian Aviation Organization operating rules or OPNAVINST 3710.7x. The number of items required by the FAR, ICAO or OPNAV must be operative. When the listed item is not required by FAR, ICAO or OPNAV it may be inoperative for time specified by repair category.

4. Each inoperative item must be placarded to inform and remind the crewmembers and maintenance personnel of the equipment condition.

NOTE: To the extent practical, placards should be located adjacent to the control or indicator for the item affected; however, unless otherwise specified, placard wording and location will be determined by the operator

5. "-" symbol in Column 2 and/or Column 3 indicates a variable number (quantity) of the item installed.

6. "Deleted” in the remarks column after a sequence item indicates that the item was previously listed but is now required to be operative if installed in the aircraft.

7. "Federal Aviation Regulations" (FAR) means the applicable portions of the Federal Aviation Act and Federal Aviation Regulations.

8. "Flight Day" means a 24 hour period (from midnight to midnight) either Universal Coordinated Time (UCT) or local time, as established by the operator, during which at least one flight is initiated for the affected aircraft.

9. "Icing Conditions" means an atmospheric environment that may cause ice to form on the aircraft or in the engine(s).

10. Alphabetical symbol in Column 4 indicates a proviso (condition or limitation) that must be complied with for operation with the listed item inoperative.

11. ”Inoperative" means a system and/or component malfunction to the extent that it does not accomplish its intended purpose and/or is not consistently functioning normally within its approved operating limit(s) or tolerance(s).

12. ”Notes:" in Column 4 provide additional information for crewmember or maintenance consideration. Notes are used to identify applicable material which is intended to assist with compliance, but do not relieve the operator of the responsibility for compliance with all applicable requirements. Notes are not a part of the provisos.

13. Inoperative components of an inoperative system: Inoperative items which are components of a system which is inoperative are usually considered components directly associated with and having no other function than to support that system. (Warning/caution systems associated with the inoperative system must be operative unless relief is specifically authorized per the MEL).

14. "(M)" symbol indicates a requirement for a specific maintenance procedure which must be accomplished prior to operation with the listed item inoperative. Normally these procedures are accomplished by maintenance personnel; however, other personnel may be qualified and authorized to perform certain functions. Procedures requiring specialized knowledge or skill, or requiring the use of tools or test equipment should be accomplished by maintenance personnel. The satisfactory accomplishment of all maintenance procedures, regardless of who performs them, is the responsibility of the Transport Plane Commander.

15. "(O)" symbol indicates a requirement for a specific operations procedure which must be accomplished in planning for and/or operating with the listed item inoperative. Normally these procedures are accomplished by the flight crew; however, other personnel may be qualified and authorized to perform certain functions. The satisfactory accomplishment of all procedures, regardless of who performs them, is the responsibility of the Transport Plane Commander.

16. "Deactivated" and "Secured" means that the specified component must be put into an acceptable condition for safe flight. An acceptable method of securing or deactivating will be established by the operator.

17. "Visual Flight Rules" (VFR) is as defined in FAR Part 91. This precludes a pilot from filing an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan.

18. "Visual Meteorological Conditions" (VMC) means the atmospheric environment is such that would allow a flight to proceed under the visual flight rules applicable to the flight. This does not preclude operating under Instrument Flight Rules.

19. "Visible Moisture" means an atmospheric environment containing water in any form that can be seen in natural or artificial light; for example, clouds, fog, rain, sleet, hail, or snow.

20. "Passenger Convenience Items" means those items related to passenger convenience, comfort or entertainment such as, but not limited to, galley equipment, movie equipment, ash trays, stereo equipment, overhead reading lamps, etc.

21. Repair Intervals: All users of this MEL must affect repairs of inoperative systems or components, deferred in accordance with the MEL, at or prior to the repair times established by the following letter designators:

a. Category A. Items in this category shall be repaired within the time interval specified in the remarks column of this MEL.

b. Category B. Items in this category shall be repaired within three consecutive calendar days (72 hours), excluding the day the malfunction was recorded in the aircraft maintenance record/logbook. For example, if it were recorded at 10 a.m. on January 26th, the three day interval would begin at 10:00 a.m. the 26th and end at 10:00 a.m. the 29th.

c. Category C. Items in this category shall be repaired within five consecutive calendar days (120 hours), excluding the day the malfunction was recorded in the aircraft maintenance record/logbook. For example, if it were recorded at 10 a.m. on January 26th, the 10 day interval would begin at 10:00 a.m. the 26th and end at 10:00 a.m. February 5th.

d. Category D. Items in this category shall be repaired within 30 consecutive calendar days (720 hours), excluding the day the malfunction was recorded in the aircraft maintenance log and/or record.

The letter designators are inserted adjacent to Column 2.

22. "Excess Items" means those items that have been installed that are redundant to the requirements of the FARs or OPNAV.

23. "Day of Discovery" is the calendar day an equipment/instrument malfunction was recorded in the aircraft maintenance log and or record. This day is excluded from the calendar days or flight days specified in the MEL for the repair of an inoperative item of equipment. This provision is applicable to all MEL items, i.e., categories "A, B, C, and D."

24. “Considered Inoperative”, as used in the provisos means that item must be treated for dispatch, taxi and flight purposes as though it were inoperative. The item shall not be used or operated until the original deferred item is repaired. Additional actions include: placarding, and complying with all remarks, exceptions, and related MEL provisions, including any (M) and (O) procedures and observing the repair category.

25. “Is not used” in the provisos, remarks or exceptions for an MEL item may specify that another item relieved in the MEL “is not used.” In such cases, crewmembers should not activate, actuate, or otherwise utilize that component or system under normal operations. It is not necessary for the operators to accomplish the (M) procedures associated with the item. However, operational requirements must be complied with, and an additional placard must be affixed, to the extent practical, adjacent to the control or indicator for the item that is not used to inform crewmembers that a component or system is not to be used under normal operations.

26. Nonessential Equipment and Furnishings (NEF) are those items installed on the aircraft as part of the original certification, supplemental type certificate, or engineering order that have no effect on the safe operation of flight and would not be required by the applicable certification rules or operational rules. They are those items that if inoperative, damaged or missing have no effect on the aircraft’s ability to be operated safely under all operational conditions. These nonessential items may be installed in areas including, but not limited to, the passenger compartment, flight deck area, service areas, cargo areas, crew rest areas, lavatories, and galley areas. NEF items are not items already identified in this MEL. They do not include items that are functionally required for compliance with any operational rule.