Q. I am a frustrated student pilot who is attending one of the small flight schools that has a professional pilot program. I am ticked by the many maintenance problems we have with the fleet of old, steam-gauge-equipped Skyhawks that are causing lots of cancellations. Do most schools and academies have these kinds of problems?
A. Many schools use older equipment for basic flight training to keep expenses and training costs down, and older aircraft break down more often. But not everything needs to be working for an airplane to be airworthy. Items that must be functioning for day VFR are listed in federal aviation regulation 91.205. Things get tricky when you get into FAR 91.213, which deals with minimum equipment lists. Everything, down to the cigarette lighter and the cabin dome light, must be operational. But, unless the broken item is one of the must-haves in 91.205, the repair or replacement can be deferred by the pilot if it is deemed nonessential to the safety of flight. The item must be properly deactivated by the airman (or mechanic, if required) and recorded in the aircraft maintenance records. The failed unit must be placarded inoperative until the repair or replacement is made. If the broken part is to be removed, only a certificated A&P mechanic can perform the work. There is additional relief for operators using an approved minimum equipment list (MEL).
The single-engine master minimum equipment list (MMEL) is online. An operator develops its MEL based on the FAA’s MMEL. For example, if one fuel gauge has conked out on your Cessna, you are dead in the water without an MEL. But an approved MEL says it may be provided “a) A reliable means is established to determine that fuel quantity on board meets the regulatory requirements for flight, and b) Procedures are established to ensure fuel balance.” So, top off the tanks and use your watch to switch tanks every 30 minutes—if you have an MEL.
Many training flights can be launched using this deferral process, allowing a timely repair to be made overnight. Encourage the school to contact the local FSDO for MEL approval.
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