Narrative:

We took over an aircraft from another crew which had MEL 52-50-xx (fortified flight deck door - automatic locking system (primary system). There were three requirements which had to be met to comply with the MEL. They are as follows: a. Automatic locking (remote access) system is deactivated;b. Secondary locking system (mechanical deadbolt) is verified operative and used to lock the door; andc. Alternate procedures are established and used for using the mechanical system and access to the flight deck.my question to maintenance control and management personnel prior to departure was simply - can we comply with requirement 'c'? Specifically where it says 'and access to the flight deck.' in my opinion; the only way to comply would be to give a key to unlock the flight deck to the flight attendants should both pilots become incapacitated in flight. However; it has been passed down along the way since I first started flying this aircraft that the keys to the forward cargo door and flight deck always stay in the flight deck. Furthermore; I was advised by the company not to give the keys to the flight attendants prior to this flight. As we were flying to our destination; it was weighing heavily on my mind that what was instructed by the company and the decision to move forward; that in my opinion we did not satisfy requirement 'c' because we truly did not establish an alternate means for flight attendants to access the flight deck. I couldn't find anywhere in our company manuals that gives guidelines as to whether or not we can hand the keys to unlock the flight deck to the flight attendants to hold on to during the flight. My thought would be either have the MEL written a little more specifically using the words 'such as' ...giving a key to the flight attendant prior to boarding passengers and having that same guidance in our company manuals as well; or the opposite (to have our manuals clearly state that we are not to give a key to the flight attendants during flight). There are risks involved with either scenario.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Dash 8 flight crew questioned their compliance with an MEL addressing cockpit door lock issues.

Narrative: We took over an aircraft from another crew which had MEL 52-50-XX (Fortified Flight Deck Door - Automatic Locking System (Primary System). There were three requirements which had to be met to comply with the MEL. They are as follows: a. Automatic locking (remote access) system is deactivated;b. Secondary locking system (mechanical deadbolt) is verified operative and used to lock the door; andc. Alternate procedures are established and used for using the mechanical system and access to the flight deck.My question to Maintenance Control and Management Personnel prior to departure was simply - can we comply with requirement 'c'? Specifically where it says 'and access to the flight deck.' In my opinion; the only way to comply would be to give a key to unlock the flight deck to the Flight Attendants should both pilots become incapacitated in flight. However; it has been passed down along the way since I first started flying this aircraft that the keys to the forward cargo door and flight deck always stay in the flight deck. Furthermore; I was advised by the company not to give the keys to the Flight Attendants prior to this flight. As we were flying to our destination; it was weighing heavily on my mind that what was instructed by the company and the decision to move forward; that in my opinion we did not satisfy requirement 'c' because we truly did not establish an alternate means for Flight Attendants to access the flight deck. I couldn't find anywhere in our company manuals that gives guidelines as to whether or not we can hand the keys to unlock the flight deck to the Flight Attendants to hold on to during the flight. My thought would be either have the MEL written a little more specifically using the words 'such as' ...giving a key to the flight attendant prior to boarding passengers and having that same guidance in our company manuals as well; or the opposite (to have our manuals clearly state that we are NOT to give a key to the Flight Attendants during flight). There are risks involved with either scenario.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.