Part 121 · Reserve, open-time & MEL
MEL — minimum equipment list
Open a deferral against an MEL item and it tracks by category A/B/C/D with an auto-rolling expiry; an expired deferral raises a dispatch banner so the aircraft doesn't fly on a busted item. It replaces the MEL binder reconciled by hand.
Launching the first quarter of 2027.
Illustrative — every screen reflects your own data.
Who it's for
Dispatch and maintenance control tracking open deferrals against each tail, who need an expiring item to surface before the aircraft flies on a busted deferral.
What it replaces
The MEL binder reconciled by hand.
What mel — minimum equipment list gives you
- Deferrals tracked by category A/B/C/D
- Auto-rolling expiry per deferral
- Expired item raises a dispatch banner
Category A/B/C/D with auto-rolling expiry
Open a deferral against an MEL item and it tracks by category A/B/C/D, each category rolling its own expiry automatically rather than being recomputed by hand in a binder. The deferral is a live record tied to the tail, not a paper entry someone has to remember to revisit.
- Deferrals tracked by category A/B/C/D
- Auto-rolling expiry per deferral
- A live record tied to the tail, not a paper entry
Expired items raise a dispatch banner
When a deferral expires, the system raises a dispatch banner so the aircraft doesn't fly on a busted item — the lapse surfaces at dispatch rather than being missed on a reconciliation. The deferral surfaces itself instead of waiting on someone to revisit it.
- Expired item raises a dispatch banner
- The lapse surfaces at dispatch, not on a reconciliation
- The aircraft doesn't fly on a busted item
How an operator uses this
Open a deferral against an MEL item and it tracks by category A/B/C/D, each category rolling its own expiry automatically rather than being recomputed by hand in a binder. When a deferral expires, the system raises a dispatch banner so the aircraft doesn't fly on a busted item — the lapse surfaces at dispatch rather than being missed on a reconciliation. The deferral is a live record tied to the tail, not a paper entry someone has to remember to revisit.
Illustrative — every screen reflects what's in your own data, nothing more.
How it works
MEL — minimum equipment list, step by step
Open a deferral against the MEL item, tagged category A, B, C, or D.
The deferral's expiry rolls automatically based on its category.
Track open deferrals against each tail.
When a deferral expires, a dispatch banner is raised so the aircraft doesn't fly on a busted item.
Questions
MEL — minimum equipment list — frequently asked
How are MEL deferrals tracked?
By category A/B/C/D, each with an auto-rolling expiry, against the tail they apply to — instead of a binder reconciled by hand.
What stops an aircraft flying on an expired deferral?
An expired deferral raises a dispatch banner, so the lapse surfaces at dispatch and the aircraft doesn't fly on a busted item.
Keep exploring
Other features in Part 121
Monthly bid packages
Per base × equipment × position, DRAFT → OPEN → CLOSED → AWARDED → PUBLISHED.
Deep diveLINE + rule-based PBS
Seniority-ordered awards in either LINE or rule-based PBS mode.
Deep diveIdempotent award engine
A pure awards function — re-running replaces prior awards with the same result.
Deep diveCrew pairing builder
Per-line pairing CRUD inside each package, with a reserve-pool fallback.
Deep diveFAR 117 enforcement
Flight-time caps checked at crew-assignment time — a busting assignment is blocked before it saves.
Deep diveFAR 121.467 cabin-crew enforcer
Parallel duty/rest enforcement for flight attendants.
Deep diveUnion / CBA contract overlay
Layer your bargaining unit's stricter limits on top of the FAR floor; the scheduler enforces whichever is more restrictive.
Deep diveCrew duty board
Live duty used per crew member, derived from shifts and the flight log.
Deep diveFatigue risk board
Deterministic and explainable — blends documented duty load with self-reported sleep signals. Not an AI prediction model.
Deep diveReserve crew
LONG_CALL + SHORT_CALL with callout and no-contact tracking.
Deep diveOpen-time / trip trading
Drop / pickup / swap with planner approval; auto-approves when no FAR 117 bust.
Deep diveAQP (14 CFR 121 App. Y)
Per-fleet proficiency objectives and CQ-cycle enrollments.
Deep diveFA recurrent training
121.421 initial / recurrent / transition / overwater on a 12-month cycle.
Deep diveRecurrent calendar
Four-month grid across credentials, FA recurrent, and inspections.
Deep diveDrug & alcohol random draws
Random-selection records with a full audit trail.
Deep diveAircraft program
ADs, SBs, and life-limited parts with inspection clocks per tail.
Deep diveCargo & ULD
IATA ULD types, an AC 120-85-styled inspection clock (non-mandatory FAA guidance), and hazmat tags on the build-up manifest.
Deep diveLive aircraft tracking
FlightAware position + ETA on the ops board (bring-your-own AeroAPI key).
Deep diveTrip-sheet briefings
METAR/TAF + NOTAMs + fuel + crew signature, print-ready; pax/cargo weight captured for your own W&B process.
Deep divePredictive maintenance
A 0–100 AOG-risk score per tail — deterministic and explainable, with the contributing factors shown.
Deep diveFleet utilization
Per-tail 30 / 90 / 365-day hours with an inspection countdown.
Deep diveManager daily digest
Today's ops and attention items emailed to managers each morning.
Deep diveReports & exports
Utilization, currency, and completion KPIs with CSV export.
Deep divePilot dashboard
A pilot's own home: next flights + FAR 117 duty standing, report-for-duty check-in, PBS bid status, 61.51 logbook, currency and credentials.
Deep diveFlight-attendant dashboard
Trips and schedule, 14 CFR 121.421 recurrent-training status, credentials, check-in, manuals, and fatigue reporting.
Deep diveCrew planner & dispatch
Bid packages and awards, reserve and open-time, and the live ops / dispatch board for the people running the operation.
Deep diveManager & compliance
Fleet, recurrency, FAR 117 oversight, and audit-ready compliance — role-scoped, one Part at a time.
Deep diveMaintenance-station routing
Flags when a tail's due check won't reach a capable station before its limit. Advisory — it surfaces the risk, it doesn't block dispatch.
Deep diveCrew-base efficiency
Surfaces deadhead and out-of-base overnights so pairings can be built to originate and terminate at a crew member's base.
Deep diveWeighted efficiency score
A configurable weighted score (abstract points, lower = better) over deadhead, overnights, repositioning, and maintenance-fit slack — set your own weights.
Deep diveExplainable swap / re-base suggestions
Deterministic aircraft-swap and re-base proposals that improve the score — every suggestion shows its reasoning. Not AI, not a guaranteed optimum.
Deep diveEvery Part 121 workspace also includes the platform-wide backbone — logbook, credentials, compliance, reporting, and audit trail.
See the backboneSee mel — minimum equipment list on your operation.
It's part of the Part 121 workspace. Request a demo or join the waitlist.