Who approves a Minimum Equipment List (MEL)?

• A. The pilot in command.
• B. The operator and the aviation authority.
• C. The maintenance supervisor.
• D. The flight instructor.

Answer: (B)

The MEL is a regulatory document that must be approved through a collaboration between the operator and the aviation authority. It defines what equipment may be inoperative and under what conditions a flight may still depart. The authority provides the safety standards and approves the operator’s MEL to ensure it meets regulatory requirements, while the operator develops and implements the MEL within those approved guidelines. The pilot in command can dispatch a flight under MEL procedures, but does not approve the MEL itself. Likewise, a maintenance supervisor handles repairs and maintenance actions, and a flight instructor does not approve MEL content. For proper authorization and compliance, both the operator and the aviation authority are involved.