Air operations

Minimum Equipment Lists (MEL)

This process provides for the initial approval of the minimum equipment lists and their subsequent revisions, in accordance with:

1. Paragraph ORO.MLR.105 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 of 5 October 2012 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to air operations pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

2. Section TAE.ORO.MLR.105 of Royal Decree 750/2014 of 5 September 2014 regulating air firefighting and search and rescue activities and laying down airworthiness and licensing requirements for other aeronautical activities.

3. Royal Decree 1762/2007 of 28 December 2007 determining the requirements relating to the master list of minimum equipment and the list of minimum equipment required for civil aircraft engaged in commercial air transport and aerial work.

This process is aimed at:

1. Operators of aeroplanes and helicopters carrying out commercial air transport operations.

2. Operators of aeroplanes and helicopters engaged in commercial operations, including specialised operations.

3. Operators of complex motor-powered aeroplanes and helicopters carrying out non-commercial operations.

4. Operators of aeroplanes and helicopters carrying out fire-fighting, search and rescue operations (on a potential basis)

Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 lays down in relation to the mandatory minimum equipment lists that a minimum equipment list (MEL) approved by the competent authority (AESA, for operators with Spanish AOC, or for declarations/authorisations of high risk SPO/NCC submitted in Spain) is mandatory for operators of:

Commercial Air Transportation (CAT)
Commercial operations, including specialised operations (commercial SPO)
Non-commercial operations with complex aircraft (NCCs)

Royal Decree 1762/2007 establishes that it is possible to have a minimum list of equipment for operators of air firefighting and search and rescue activities, and if such a list is established, it must be approved by the authority (AESA, for operators with Spanish EOCs).

To download the application form for approval of a MEL, as well as to consult additional information:

Access to Electronic Headquarters

In the case of non-commercial operations with non-complex powered aircraft (NCOs), Regulation EU 965/2012 does not require the establishment of an MEL as a mandatory requirement to operate an aircraft, although the operator may establish an MEL to be notified to the State Aviation Safety Agency in accordance with requirement NCO.GEN.155.

Additional information regarding the minimum equipment list (MEL) can be found in the following links:

Information relating to the preamble of the Minimum Equipment List (MEL)

The link below provides the minimum equipment list (MEL) model, with all operational items, so that the operator who considers it can formally comply with the requirement set out in ORO.MLR.105, although the operation of the aircraft will require all equipment related to airworthiness or operating operating standards or airspace requirements.

MEL ALL OPERATING MODEL CAT-SPO-NCC-RD750_2020-02-27

The information relating to this process is developed in the following Guide