Federal Aviation

Administration

MMEL Policy Letter 29 Revision 5

Date: Aug 10, 2010

To: All Region Flight Standards Division Managers

All Aircraft Evaluation Group Managers

From: Manager, Air Transportation Division, AFS-200

Reply To Manager, Technical Programs Branch, AFS-260

Attn Of:

MMEL GLOBAL CHANGE

PL-29, R 5 is designated as GC-168
This GC is an approved addendum to all existing MMEL documents. The operator may seek use of the
specific relief contained in the policy letter by revising the Minimum Equipment List (MEL). In doing so,
the sample proviso stating the relief in the policy letter must be copied verbatim in the operator's MEL.
Approval of the revised MEL is gained utilizing established procedure, through the assigned Principal
Operations Inspector (POI).

Subject: Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) Requirements

for Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)
MMEL CODE: 23 (COMMUNICATIONS)
PL- 29, Revision 4, dated September 15, 2004 signed by Matthew J. Schack
REFERENCE:
PL- 29, Revision 3, dated August 15, 1997 signed by Matthew J. Schack
PL- 29, Revision 2 dated January 27, 1997 signed by David S. Potter
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy letter is to provide standardized MMEL requirements for the cockpit voice
recorder (CVR).

DISCUSSION:
Revision 5 adds relief for the CVR independent power source (14 CFR 25.1457) mandated for
airplanes manufactured on or after 7 April 2010. There is no retrofit requirement.

Revision 4: Revised PL 29 to provide additional MMEL relief for operators other than holders of an air
carrier or commercial operator certificate.

The original policy letter 29 provided MMEL requirements for both CVR and FDR systems and required
that one of the two systems must be operative at all times. FDR requirements are now covered in

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separate policy letter 87; this policy letter is revised to address CVR only.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that in too many cases investigations
were hindered by inoperative CVR systems, or recorded data of such poor quality as to be of no value.
The NTSB has recommended stringent repair requirements for CVR systems.

POLICY:
The following policy has been established for the CVR in order to ensure that at least the minimum level
of safety intended by the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) is met.

ATA 23 COMMUNICATIONS

COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER (CVR) WITH FLIGHT DATA RECORDER (FDR) INSTALLED

XX-X Cockpit Voice A 1 0 May be inoperative provided:

Recorder (CVR) a) Flight Data Recorder (FDR)
operates normally, and
b) Repairs are made within three
flight days.

*** 1) Independent Power C 1 0

Source

COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER (CVR) WITHOUT FLIGHT DATA RECORDER INSTALLED

XX-X Cockpit Voice A 1 0 May be inoperative provided repairs

Recorder (CVR) are made within three flight days.

*** 1) Independent Power C 1 0

Source

COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER (CVR) INSTALLED FOR AN OPERATOR OTHER THAN A HOLDER OF
AN AIR CARRIER OR COMMERCIAL OPERATOR CERTIFICATE

XX-X Cockpit Voice A 1 0 May be inoperative provided repairs

Recorder (CVR) are made in accordance with
applicable FARs.
*** 1) Independent Power C 1 0
Source

Each Flight Operations Evaluation Board (FOEB) Chairman should apply this Policy to affected MMELs
through the normal FOEB process.

John Duncan, Manager,

Air Transportation Division, AFS-200

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