Narrative:

Aircraft problem after gate departure. Dispatch MEL interpretation. After gate departure and before takeoff we had the APU valve fail with the associated APU bleed valve message on the MFDU (multi-function display unit). We referred to the operations manual and the MEL for guidance. We were to turn it off with no option to try and reset. Maintenance said the same. I then called the dispatcher to inform her of our aircraft status and about the time we got her on the radio we received an ACARS message. It stated that and I quote 'the MEL provisions are before you leave the gate...if you are cool enough to continue then it will be ok.' FD (flight dispatch) end. I then asked dispatch if she did not know that the MEL applied to aircraft on the ground period and she did not. I then referred her to the section in the MEL general section that addresses failures after gate departure and asked her if she was aware of this procedure and she said and I quote well I do now. I found it quite disturbing that she did not know this policy and sent me a message that said you are good to go was wrong on 2 counts. MEL applies any time the aircraft is on the ground and this was not a flight crew placardable item. That meant we had to go back to the gate for maintenance and could not continue. Please educate her on the MEL before the next situation ends in a violation or worse.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: F100 CREW GOT INCORRECT MEL INFO FROM FLT DISPATCHER REGARDING DEPARTING WITH OPEN LOG ITEMS.

Narrative: ACFT PROB AFTER GATE DEP. DISPATCH MEL INTERP. AFTER GATE DEP AND BEFORE TKOF WE HAD THE APU VALVE FAIL WITH THE ASSOCIATED APU BLEED VALVE MESSAGE ON THE MFDU (MULTI-FUNCTION DISPLAY UNIT). WE REFERRED TO THE OPS MANUAL AND THE MEL FOR GUIDANCE. WE WERE TO TURN IT OFF WITH NO OPTION TO TRY AND RESET. MAINT SAID THE SAME. I THEN CALLED THE DISPATCHER TO INFORM HER OF OUR ACFT STATUS AND ABOUT THE TIME WE GOT HER ON THE RADIO WE RECEIVED AN ACARS MESSAGE. IT STATED THAT AND I QUOTE 'THE MEL PROVISIONS ARE BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE GATE...IF YOU ARE COOL ENOUGH TO CONTINUE THEN IT WILL BE OK.' FD (FLT DISPATCH) END. I THEN ASKED DISPATCH IF SHE DID NOT KNOW THAT THE MEL APPLIED TO ACFT ON THE GND PERIOD AND SHE DID NOT. I THEN REFERRED HER TO THE SECTION IN THE MEL GENERAL SECTION THAT ADDRESSES FAILURES AFTER GATE DEP AND ASKED HER IF SHE WAS AWARE OF THIS PROC AND SHE SAID AND I QUOTE WELL I DO NOW. I FOUND IT QUITE DISTURBING THAT SHE DID NOT KNOW THIS POLICY AND SENT ME A MESSAGE THAT SAID YOU ARE GOOD TO GO WAS WRONG ON 2 COUNTS. MEL APPLIES ANY TIME THE ACFT IS ON THE GND AND THIS WAS NOT A FLT CREW PLACARDABLE ITEM. THAT MEANT WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE GATE FOR MAINT AND COULD NOT CONTINUE. PLEASE EDUCATE HER ON THE MEL BEFORE THE NEXT SIT ENDS IN A VIOLATION OR WORSE.

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.