If an item is not MEL-able and requires maintenance, what action should be taken?

• A. Recalculate weight and balance
• B. Don’t dispatch if critical
• C. Notify passengers
• D. Adjust performance planning or schedules accordingly

Answer: (B)

When an item isn’t MEL-able and it requires maintenance, safety and regulatory rules require you not to depart if that item is critical to flight. The MEL (Minimum Equipment List) allows certain inoperative equipment to be deferred under specific limits, but if something cannot be deferred and is essential for safe operation, the aircraft must stay on the ground until the maintenance is completed or an equivalent safety solution is in place.

So the proper action is to not dispatch the aircraft when the item is critical. This ensures you’re not compromising safety or compliance. Recalculating weight and balance isn’t the tool for this situation, since the issue isn’t about loading or balance. Notifying passengers isn’t the appropriate regulatory step. While you can consider scheduling implications, they don’t replace the requirement to delay dispatch for a non-MEL-able, maintenance-requiring item that is critical to the flight.