Narrative:

I was dispatched with a MEL item 32-42-1B in a B757-200. After takeoff a closer examination of the limitation of this MEL item indicated that we were not within FAA guidelines concerning this MEL item. We landed at our destination without incident, however, after a very long discussion with maintenance, and flight dispatch it was determined that the aircraft could not proceed without a modification to the MEL write up. This section of the MEL dispatch book is very difficult to interpret and should be revised. This aircraft had flown 10 legs in this condition and I think I was comfortable with the MEL dispatch item because it had been accepted by many other pilots for flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR 757-200 FLOWN MAY LEGS WITHOUT COMPLIANCE WITH THE MEL REQUIREMENTS.

Narrative: I WAS DISPATCHED WITH A MEL ITEM 32-42-1B IN A B757-200. AFTER TKOF A CLOSER EXAMINATION OF THE LIMITATION OF THIS MEL ITEM INDICATED THAT WE WERE NOT WITHIN FAA GUIDELINES CONCERNING THIS MEL ITEM. WE LANDED AT OUR DEST WITHOUT INCIDENT, HOWEVER, AFTER A VERY LONG DISCUSSION WITH MAINT, AND FLT DISPATCH IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACFT COULD NOT PROCEED WITHOUT A MODIFICATION TO THE MEL WRITE UP. THIS SECTION OF THE MEL DISPATCH BOOK IS VERY DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET AND SHOULD BE REVISED. THIS ACFT HAD FLOWN 10 LEGS IN THIS CONDITION AND I THINK I WAS COMFORTABLE WITH THE MEL DISPATCH ITEM BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN ACCEPTED BY MANY OTHER PLTS FOR FLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.