History of the Boeing M.E.L

[Long Bay Mauler]

Someone asked me a question the other day.

It went something along the lines of "What was the Boeing Minimum Equipment List called prior to being called either the MEL or DDG?"

The person asking the question had been told it was called a "Transit qualification",but that doesnt sound familiar to me.It was pre-B747 days apparently.

Am I just too young to know that,or is it a load of cobblers?

[mustafagander]

That's how we used to refer to the MEL when I was a LAME on B707s.

Some of us old farts still refer to the "TQs" when we really mean MEL.

TQs were all about being able to transit a port with a maintenance problem to get to a port where a repair could be made. It was envisioned that this repair port would not be 2 weeks away!!

[BelArgUSA]

Started flying B707 in 1970 with PanAm.
We had 707-321 and 331 both with JT4A
Only difference was air conditioning packs, 321 air cycle, 331 freon.
Then we had 707-321B/C and 720B, with JT3D
xxx
First as flight engineer, then pilot, as per "USA" traditions.
We had 1 binder which was a combined MEL and CDL we called DDPG
Minimum Equipment list -
Configuration Deviation List -
Dispatch Deviation Procedures Guide -
Also recalling a PanAm TG - Troubleshooting Guide - Was outstanding.
And a little booklet with the ATA Malfunction Codes (for R/T use).
xxx
Too old to remember more
:8
Happy contrails