"Jay Beckman" wrote

I double checked with the owner of my flight school and he confirms
that
they are using FAA approved MELs for their C172s...

Jay, there's just a good chance that the owner is just as confused
about the Aircraft Flight Manual Equipment List and a true Minimum
Equipment List as many of this group's members were.

Locate a copy of this C-172 MEL and scan the paragraphs pertaining
to FAA approval, then post it here.

I WILL belive it when I see it. As another poster has written, of
what value is an MEL for a Cessna 172?

I am copying below a post that I made on the subject some time back.
It contains references to what an MEL is and under what circumstances
it is issued.
Note that there are no MMELs for single-engine, non-turbine aircraft
published by the FAA.

Bob Moore

Mis-use of terminology strikes again! None of you guys have
seen an MEL for a single engine Mooney. The list of equipment
contained in small aircraft AFMs is not an MEL, but just an
"Installed Equipment List". I would suggest reading the
following web page for information on MMELs (Master Minimum
Equipment Lists) published for types of aircraft and MELs
approved for specific (N number) aircraft. An MEL must be
developed by the operator and approved by the FAA.

http://www1.faa.gov/avr/afs/customer/mmel.pdf

There are some small twin engined aircraft that do have a
published MMEL and these can be found at the following site.

http://www.opspecs.com/AFSDATA/MMELs/Final/smallac/

And......from the following excellent web page:


http://www.aero.und.edu/inet/avit325...douts/MEL.html
__________________________________________________ _____
What is a Minimum Equipment List?

A Minimum Equipment List (MEL) is a Supplemental Type
Certificate issued by the FAA which allows a specific
aircraft to continue operating in an airworthy condition,
although certain required instruments or items of the
equipment are inoperative.
A MEL is a document that lists the instruments and equipment
that may be inoperative without jeopardizing the safety of the
aircraft.
The MEL includes procedures for flight crews and/or maintenance
crews to follow when securing or deactivating inoperative
instruments or equipment.

What is a Master Minimum Equipment List?

A Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) is the standard list of
items and procedures for a standard aircraft make and model.