Which two documents would you consult to determine if a flight is permissible with inoperative fuel gauges?

• A. MEL and MMEL
• B. Flight Manual and MEL
• C. COM and MMEL
• D. COM and MEL

Answer: (D)

When deciding if you can fly with inoperative fuel gauges, you look at how the operator would handle that fault and what the airframe allows. The Master Minimum Equipment List (MEL) tells you exactly what inoperative equipment is permitted to fly with and under what conditions for that aircraft type. It defines the safety limits, required compensations, and any actions that must be taken before dispatch.

The Company Operations Manual (COM) then puts those allowances into the operator’s own rules. It covers dispatch procedures, required fuel planning and reserves when MEL items are inoperative, who can authorize dispatch, and any company-specific limitations or steps you must follow. In other words, MEL provides the technical approval window, and COM provides the company-specific implementation of that approval.

The MMEL is the generic master list, and the Flight Manual is not the primary source for dispatch allowances with inoperative gauges. So the right sources are the COM and the MEL.