Why cant NEF items be incorperated into the MEL?

[Weads]

I understand what an MMEL and an individually tailored MEL are but why is there a need for an NEF list as part of an MEL? In other words why is there even such a a thing as an NEF? I understand that an MEL list is minimum equipment deemed safe for flight; however if we didnt have an NEF, a broken table or toilet paper holder etc. would ground us.(So it is kind of all essential in a way) So what says that NEF items cannot be placed on an MEL? If it is because MEL’s are only components and systems where does it say what is and isn’t allowed on them?

Thanks you guys in advance for the insight!

[eckhard]

What's an NEF please?

[Weads]

NEF Non essential furnishing

[TURIN]

As far as I know it's an FAA thing, I've never seen it used on anything other than N reg aircraft.

Its always puzzled me.

[Weads]

Somehow that doesn’t surprise me

[+TSRA]

I can only speak for Canada, but Transport Canada allows NEF’s to be put into the MEL for the exact reason outlined in the first post. The situation had presented itself too many times in remote locations where a table tray or ashtray broke and suddenly the aircraft was grounded, often for days at a time.

In some cases an NEF is included as part of the MMEL (e.g., Q400) or it added after the operators flight and tech ops departments meet with Transport to come up with the applicable language. I’m surprised other regulators don’t permit this, although maybe it comes down to differences in the way other governments handle MELs and deferred defects.

[Mad (Flt) Scientist]

Nonessential Equipment and Furnishings (NEF). NEFs are those items installed on the aircraft as part of the original type certification (TC), STC, engineering order, or other form of alteration that have no effect on the safe operation of flight and would not be required by the applicable certification rules or operational rules. They are those items that, if inoperative, damaged, or missing, have no effect on the aircraft’s ability to be operated safely under all operational conditions. NEF items are not instrument and equipment items already identified in the MEL or CDL of the applicable aircraft. They do not include instrument and equipment items that are functionally required to meet the certification rule or for compliance with any operational rule.
(Taken from FAA MMEL PL-25)

I'm going to state that NEF's exist because common sense does not. And then duck. ;)

It shouldn't be necessary to state that a passengers foot rest isn't required for flight, and common sense wouldn't even have anyone ask "can I fly if this is broken and yet isn't on the MMEL?" - the number of these required for flight is nil, and the MMEL doesn't as a general rule list all the "nil required" items. But, people kept getting caught up on the "undefined items", so now they get listed.

For similar (but opposite) reasons, I've seen it explicitly written that although MMELs do not contain the "wing" as "required for flight" this doesn't constitute permission to attempt to fly without a wing....