MEL REQUIREMENT -- ACR FLC DISCOVERS THAT THE MEL IN THE ACFT IS OUT OF DATE WHEN THEY DISCUSS A PROVISION WITH MAINT. MAINT EXPLAINED THAT THE MEL CODE NUMBERS FOR THE NAV LIGHTS IN THEIR; MORE RECENT MEL; WERE CORRECT.

Narrative

AT THE GATE WHILE DOING MY EXTERIOR WALKAROUND; I NOTICED THE L WING POS LIGHTS INOP (2 OF THEM). I NOTIFIED THE CAPT AND CALLED MAINT. THE CAPT AND I THOUGHT THE ITEM SHOULD BE PLACED UNDER 33-00-9A YET THE MAINT GUY WANTED TO PUT IT UNDER 33-00-9C. THE INOP LIGHTS WERE THE GREEN LIGHTS; AND NOT THE TRAILING EDGE WHITE LIGHTS WHICH WE THOUGHT WERE IMPLIED BY 33-00-9C. SO THE CAPT AND MECH CALLED THE ATL MAINT COORDINATOR IN THE JETWAY. HE SAID PUT IT UNDER 33-00-9C BECAUSE HE HAD SOME TYPE OF ELECTRONIC REVISION WHICH DELETED REF TO THE WHITE. SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS REVISION IN THE ACFT; THE CAPT EXPRESSED HIS RESERVATIONS ABOUT OUR COPY OF 33-00-9C; BUT MADE THE DECISION TO GO WITH THE ATL MAINT COORDINATOR'S EXPLANATION AND ALLOW IT TO GO UNDER 33-00- 9C. HE RETURNED TO THE COCKPIT AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS TAKEN CARE OF. LATER IN FLT AFTER DISCUSSING OUR ACTIONS; I DISCOVERED THE CAPT FORGOT TO GET THE 'DISPATCH APPROVAL REQUIRED;' AS STATED IN WHICH I THOUGHT HE DID SINCE HE STATED EVERYTHING WAS TAKEN CARE OF. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO THE CAPT; BUT HE WAS IN THE JETWAY OUT OF MY SIGHT. HE COULD HAVE COME BACK TO THE COCKPIT TO FURTHER DISCUSS WHAT THE ATL MAINT COORDINATOR TOLD HIM BEFORE HE MADE HIS DECISION OR WE MIGHT HAVE EVEN REVIEWED THE 33-00-9C ITEM AGAIN. POSSIBLY; DON'T USE OR CONFUSE STATEMENTS LIKE 'EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF' AS ALL STEPS WERE COMPLETED AND REVIEW THE STEPS BY MYSELF. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR WAS FLYING AN MD88 WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT BOTH L WING NAV LIGHTS (RED) WERE OUT. MAINT DECIDED TO PUT THE LIGHTS ON THE MEL. THE MEL IN THE ACFT CONFLICTED WITH THE MEL THAT THE MAINT COORDINATOR WAS USING AND HE ASSURED THE FLC THAT HE KNEW OF AN UPDATE THAT WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE TO THE CREW. BASED ON THESE ASSURANCES THE FLC DEPARTED FOR TPA.