Minimum Equipment List (MEL)
In real-world aviation, not everything on an aircraft needs to be working perfectly for the plane to fly safely. The Minimum Equipment List is an approved document that says which items can be temporarily broken (deferred) while the aircraft continues to operate.
JetStream Virtual simulates this with an automatic MEL system that adds realism to your fleet operations.
How It Works
After every accepted flight, there is a chance that the aircraft picks up a minor defect — a sticky seat tray, a scratched window, an inoperative reading light, a cosmetic dent. These are logged as MEL items and stay on the aircraft until the next maintenance check clears them.
- Each flight has roughly a 35% chance of generating 1–2 MEL items.
- An aircraft can have a maximum of 8 open MEL items at any time.
- Items are never duplicated — you won't see the same defect twice on the same aircraft.
MEL Categories
Each MEL item is assigned a category that defines how urgently it needs to be fixed:
| Category | Repair Interval | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| A | Before next flight | Must be fixed immediately. These are rare and usually safety-related. |
| B | Within 3 days | Should be fixed soon. Things like a faulty seatbelt indicator or minor cockpit item. |
| C | Within 10 days | Can wait a bit. Minor system issues that don't affect normal operations. |
| D | Within 120 days | Cosmetic or very minor. Paint chips, scratches, non-essential lights. |
When Do MEL Items Get Cleared?
All open MEL items are automatically cleared when the aircraft undergoes any maintenance check (A, B, or C check). You don't need to do anything manually — when maintenance completes, the MEL list is wiped clean.
Where to See MEL Items
MEL information is shown in multiple places so you always know what you're flying:
- Aircraft Selection Page — A warning badge shows the number of open MEL items next to each aircraft. A green checkmark means zero defects.
- Aircraft Detail Card — Click Info on the aircraft selection page to expand a panel showing all open MEL items with their category and due date.
- Aircraft Detail Page — The full tech log page (
/daircraft/{registration}) shows every MEL item with descriptions and overdue warnings. - Briefing Page — The Aircraft tab on your SimBrief briefing lists all open MEL items for the aircraft you're about to fly.
What Do MEL Items Look Like?
Here are some examples of MEL items you might see on an aircraft:
- 21-50-01 — Cabin temperature zone 3 running slightly warm (Cat C)
- 52-10-02 — Passenger door L2 assist handle cosmetic damage (Cat D)
- 24-20-01 — USB power outlet inoperative at seat 22A (Cat D)
- 34-10-01 — Stall warning test button intermittent (Cat B)
The number before each item (like 21-50-01) is an ATA chapter code — the standard numbering system that real airlines use to categorize aircraft systems.
Tips
- MEL items don't prevent you from flying — they're informational, just like in real life.
- If an aircraft has many MEL items, it might be due for maintenance soon.
- A brand-new aircraft that has never been flown will show zero MEL items and a "Brand New" badge.