Narrative:

Before takeoff, I called in a discrepancy for first officer seat horizontal mechanical adjustment inoperative. We received an MEL for the seat. After the mechanics left, I looked up the MEL and had a question on dispatchability. I called maintenance control and they sent out the mechanics to explain it. I was satisfied with the explanation and we departed with the MEL. I found out later that day that the crew taking our aircraft would not accept it. The MEL as written is very confusing and subject to interpretation. We took the advice and expertise of our maintenance department and made the decision to go. It might have been the wrong decision. I think that the company should provide a clear and concise MEL and pilots should not have to interpretation its meaning.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN LGT OPERATED THE ACFT WHEN THE DEFERRED MAINT REPAIR OF THE FO'S SEAT WAS NOT PERMITTED.

Narrative: BEFORE TKOF, I CALLED IN A DISCREPANCY FOR FO SEAT HORIZ MECHANICAL ADJUSTMENT INOP. WE RECEIVED AN MEL FOR THE SEAT. AFTER THE MECHS LEFT, I LOOKED UP THE MEL AND HAD A QUESTION ON DISPATCHABILITY. I CALLED MAINT CTL AND THEY SENT OUT THE MECHS TO EXPLAIN IT. I WAS SATISFIED WITH THE EXPLANATION AND WE DEPARTED WITH THE MEL. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT DAY THAT THE CREW TAKING OUR ACFT WOULD NOT ACCEPT IT. THE MEL AS WRITTEN IS VERY CONFUSING AND SUBJECT TO INTERP. WE TOOK THE ADVICE AND EXPERTISE OF OUR MAINT DEPT AND MADE THE DECISION TO GO. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE WRONG DECISION. I THINK THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD PROVIDE A CLR AND CONCISE MEL AND PLTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO INTERP ITS MEANING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.