Final answer:
The MEL, or Minimum Equipment List, is a document for airline operations and maintenance staff detailing items that can be inoperative under certain conditions and is not typically accessible to passengers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acronym MEL stands for Minimum Equipment List, which is a document that enumerates the items on an aircraft that may be inoperative for flight under specific conditions. When checking whether a flight has an MEL, passengers typically won't have access to this information. However, airline operations and maintenance personnel will have this document, as it's a regulatory requirement. Pilots will also be aware of the MEL items before flight. For a passenger, the practical aspect would focus on whether there are any announcements regarding delays or modifications to service due to maintenance issues.