B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; MEL; Procedure; Manuals
This is a SAFETY concern. In order to issue the B737 MEL 35-XXX for the Passenger Oxygen Complete System inop; Boeing MEL 'M' procedure; step 'e' requires portable oxygen units to be provided for at least 10% of the passengers. Our 737 NG aircraft is configured for 160 passengers. If we multiply this number by 0.10%; [it] is equal to 16 portable oxygen units that are required to be in compliances with the MEL instructions. During the last MEL Rev 60-XX; a note was added to the 'M' procedure for clarification. This note reads the following. 'The B737 NG is equipped with sufficient portable oxygen CAPACITY to provide for 10% of the passengers; provided that no more than one bottle is inoperative or missing.' The information provided on this note contradicts the 'M' procedure and requirements to issue this placard. The 737 NG is not equipped with sufficient portable oxygen units for 10% of the passengers in accordance with our emergency equipment configuration. There are only 6 portable oxygen units available in the cabin for the passengers. The amount of oxygen available for the passengers should not be measured based on the CAPACITY of oxygen available in the aircraft; but the AMOUNT of units available to assist multiple; different passengers in the event of an emergency.This MEL is a SAFETY hazard for our passenger and flight crew; and should be corrected as soon as possible due to compliances.
Technician reported disagreement between various MEL requirements for aircraft with an inoperative passenger oxygen system.