Airworthiness, MEL & CDL
Airworthiness, MEL & CDL is a core knowledge area on the Aircraft Dispatcher FAA written exam. This hub collects our 7 in-depth, ACS-aligned airworthiness, mel & cdl articles — each written in plain English and grounded in the official FAA handbooks. Work through them below, then drill the topic with practice questions.
Reading and Applying the Minimum Equipment List (MEL) at Dispatch
An Aircraft Dispatcher must know how to read, apply, and coordinate the MEL to legally dispatch an aircraft with inoperative equipment, ensuring every condition and limitation is met before a flight release is issued.
Configuration Deviation List (CDL) and Missing-Part Performance Penalties
A Configuration Deviation List (CDL) identifies non-structural airframe parts that may be missing in revenue service while accounting for associated performance penalties, as authorized under 14 CFR 121.628 and AC 120-77.
Coordinating Deferred Maintenance with Dispatch Under 14 CFR 121.628
14 CFR 121.628 establishes how certificated air carriers must coordinate inoperative instrument and equipment deferrals through a Minimum Equipment List, requiring active dispatcher involvement in every airworthiness decision that affects dispatch.
MEL Categories A, B, C, and D Repair Intervals the Dispatcher Tracks
MEL Categories A, B, C, and D define the maximum allowable repair intervals for inoperative equipment; dispatchers must track these deadlines to keep aircraft legally airworthy and dispatch-legal.
Required Inspections and Maintenance Status Checks Before Release
Before releasing a flight, aircraft dispatchers must verify the aircraft is airworthy, confirm all required inspections are current, and cross-check the MEL/CDL status to ensure no deferred items prohibit the operation.
Airworthiness Directives and How They Affect a Dispatchable Aircraft
Airworthiness Directives (ADs) are legally mandatory FAA orders that correct unsafe conditions in aircraft, engines, propellers, or appliances — and compliance is a prerequisite for a dispatchable, airworthy aircraft under 14 CFR Part 121.
Inoperative Equipment, Placards, and (M) and (O) Procedures for Release
Aircraft dispatchers must understand how inoperative equipment is handled under the MEL and CDL, including the legal authority of (M) and (O) procedures, placard requirements, and the dispatcher's role in releasing an aircraft with deferred items.
More Aircraft Dispatcher subjects
Articles are original summaries grounded in the public-domain FAA handbooks and cite their source. ACS-aligned study aids — not a substitute for the official handbooks or regulations.