NONESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS (NEF)

NEF are those items installed on the aircraft as part of the original type certification, supplemental type certificate, or other form of alteration that have no effect on the safe operation of flight and would not be required by the applicable certification rules or operational rules. They are those items that, if inoperative, damaged, or missing, have no effect on the aircraft's ability to be operated safely under all operational conditions. These nonessential items may be installed in areas including, but not limited to, the passenger compartment, flight deck area, service areas, cargo areas, crew rest areas, lavatories, and galley areas. NEF items are not items already identified in the MEL or CDL of the applicable aircraft. They do not include items that are functionally required to meet the certification rule or for compliance with any operational rule. The operator's NEF process shall not provide for deferral of items within serviceable limits identified in the manufacturer's maintenance manual or operator's approved maintenance program such as wear limits, fuel/hydraulic leak rates, oil consumption, etc. Cosmetic items that are fully serviceable but worn or soiled may be deferred under an operator's NEF process. By definition, NEF items do not affect the safe operation of an aircraft. Due to the wide variance of these items from aircraft to aircraft, a complete list of NEF items is not required to be maintained in the operator's MEL, but in a list or other equivalent method of tracking.

Nonessential Equipment and Furnishings (NEF) Program

Many operators deferred inoperative, damaged, or missing equipment or instruments not located in these areas via means other than the Minimum Equipment List (MEL) or Configuration Deviation List (CDL) (i.e., air carrier internal deferral programs authorized by their maintenance program). Other than under the provisions of an approved MEL or CDL, the regulations do not provide for the deferral of inoperative, damaged, or missing equipment or instruments. Because the PCI is limited to the areas described above, the FAA is replacing the current PCI title in ATA chapter 25 of all MMELs with the new term, NEF.

Operators may use the deferral authority granted in the MMEL as a basis for developing an operator- specific program, approved through the MEL, that provides relief for inoperative, damaged, or missing nonessential equipment and furnishings located throughout the aircraft. Although the NEF program is listed under chapter 25, it may address items that would fall under other ATA chapters. The operators are responsible for designing, implementing, maintaining, and revising the NEF program.

The FAA does not require that NEF items be listed in the MEL. Although it is not required for an operator to develop a list of NEF items, development of such a list will reduce both the operator's and the FAA's time spent analyzing recurring deferrals of the same items. An NEF list (or equivalent) will also provide flight crews, maintenance, and operations personnel, if applicable, with any applicable maintenance and operations (M & O) procedures necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft. If an operator chooses to develop a list of NEF items, that list can be maintained in a manner and location agreed to by the CHDO.

The operator's NEF program must prescribe repair intervals for NEF items. Operators may use the current MEL deferral categories at their discretion
The fundamental elements for an operator obtaining approval of an NEF Program are the operator's:

• Development of procedures and processes for identifying items that may be deferred
• Development of appropriate procedures
• Documentation of inoperative, damaged, or missing items
• Reporting of deferrals to the FAA office charged with program oversight, and
• Procedures for follow-up maintenance

We can develop an NEF tailored to your specific aircraft for $2500.00. This prize includes the development of a new MEL with NEF procedures and processes for identifying items that may be deferred. We will provide two MEL copies with ATA code TABs and Binders.

For additional information on NEF refer to the FAA Web page Flight Standard Information Management System (FSIMS) NEF.