If a non-MEL defect is identified, what is the likely consequence for dispatch?

• A. It may prevent dispatch until maintenance resolves.
• B. It always allows dispatch with post-flight repair.
• C. It can be deferred indefinitely.
• D. It is ignored if flight is short.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how airworthiness deferrals work. A non-MEL defect isn’t covered by the approved deferral procedures in the Minimum Equipment List, so there isn’t an authorized way to let the aircraft fly with that defect. Because of that, dispatch is typically withheld until maintenance repairs the issue or otherwise clears the defect. In other words, the aircraft isn’t considered safe to depart until the problem is resolved.

This is why the other options don’t fit. You can’t rely on post-flight repair as a guaranteed path for dispatch when the defect isn’t MEL-authorized, and you can’t defer indefinitely—non-MEL items don’t have an approved, indefinite postponement window. Ignoring a non-MEL defect even for a short flight isn’t acceptable because safety and regulatory requirements still apply.