Which documents confirm items permitted to be inoperative and the permissible deviations on the A320 for dispatch considerations?

• A. MEL (Master Equipment List) and CDL (Configuration Deviation List).
• B. AFM and placards.
• C. QRH and ECAM.
• D. CATs and NTSB guidance.

Answer: (A)

The ability to dispatch with items not working on an A320 is governed by two specific documents: the MEL and the CDL. The Master Minimum Equipment List shows which items may be inoperative and the exact conditions under which the aircraft can still fly—including time limits for keeping the fault unresolved, required maintenance actions, and any operating limitations to be observed until repair. In other words, it defines what faults are acceptable for flight and what must be addressed within a set timeframe.

The Configuration Deviation List covers permissible deviations in the aircraft’s configuration for dispatch when certain equipment or systems aren’t installed or are in a nonstandard state. It tells you which configuration changes are allowed and what additional restrictions apply when those deviations exist, so the crew can still operate the aircraft safely and within regulatory limits.

AFM, QRH/ECAM, and other guidance address procedures and in-flight handling, not the dispatch allowances for inoperative items or configuration deviations.