Who Is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer?
An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME), also Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME or L-AME), is a licensed person who carries out and certifies aircraft maintenance. The license is widespread internationally and is recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) according to the rules and standard specify in ICAO Annex 1. The American FAA recognise the qualification in foreign countries but refer to it as Aviation Maintenance Engineer rather than Aircraft.
International Aviation Scholarship and Aptitude Test (IASAT) 2026
REGISTRATIONS STARTING FROM 01 OCTOBER 2025
Make Your Dream Come True. ENROLL NOW!!
Scholarship Exam For All The Students Pursuing Higher Education
Easy way to start AME
Follow these simple steps to check your eligibility and begin the admission process.
Eligibility Check (10+2 / Diploma)
Opportunity
Placement
Career Growth
Get free counselling from our aviation experts
What does an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer do?
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) ensures the airworthiness of an aircraft, whether it is a fixed-wing airplane or a helicopter. They identify problems, repair and overhaul aircraft structural, mechanical and electrical systems. An Ame is a personnel who is responsible for the release of an aircraft or a component after Maintenance. Ame’s ensures that at any time in its operating life, the aircraft complies with the requirements in force and is in a condition for safe operation. Ame does overhaul, repair, inspection, replacement, modification or defect rectification of an aircraft or component, with the exception of pre-flight inspection.
An aircraft maintenance engineer is responsible for ensuring an aircraft operates properly and safely. This job entails assessing and handling repairs, performing regular inspections, and updating aircraft as needed. individuals in this role must be trained and certified. AME has assigned the role of certifying for the sound state of systems maintained on aircraft such as engines, hydraulics, autopilot, communications, radars, landing gears etc.
AME is the sole arbitrator of safety whilst the aircraft is on the ground. AME sign a Certificate of Release to service. He/She is 100% sure that aircraft is safe for flying.Aircraft maintenance engineers must be familiar with all relevant safety and security rules and procedures. Aircraft engineering is a critical safety function with a direct link in the chain of events that could lead to any kind of aircraft incident, making it imperative that all applicable licensing and procedures are held at the highest standard. By upholding safety and security measures, successful aircraft maintenance engineers will be prepared for any inspections conducted by competent authority (National Aviation Authority) of a country.
What is the future for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer?
The modern transport Aircraft today are highly sophisticated machines. Lots of different kind of technologies are deployed in these advanced aircrafts. The passenger and in-flight crew depend completely on the reliability of the aircraft parts and equipment. Thus, the job of aircraft maintenance engineers demands much more than skill and training. The job requires a great sense of responsibility and logical thinking. Airlines across the globe are continuously expanding their aircraft capacity and adding more number of advanced new generation airplanes. This has resulted in significant demand for aircraft maintenance personnel. And this demand will grow further in next 20 years.
In India, Recent industry reports suggest that nearly 72,900 jobs for technicians and AMEs will be created in India across Airlines and MRO sector by 2035. The need is to equip the AMEs with skills that make them dynamic stakeholders of India’s economic future. Nearly 3,644 AMEs received Basic Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Certificate (BAMEC) in the last few years; however, only 159 type rating AME licenses were issued.
The AME trainees passing out from DGCA approved AME training institutes have to undergo practical training with Airlines/MRO organization/NSOPs as apprentices. Lack of practical training severely affects the employability of AMEs.
As per aerospace giant Boeing’s forecast report of 2017, the aviation industry will require more than 648000 technicians and engineers between 2017-2035. The need for next-generation aircraft maintenance personnel will be largest in Asia Pacific region (256,000), followed by North America (118,000), Europe (111,000), the Middle East (66,000), Latin America (49,000), CIS/Russia (25,000) and Africa (23,000).
The growing demand for the aircraft engineers cannot be satisfied with existing professionals working in the field. So, those who are currently attending the AME course or planning to join will enjoy a higher advantage as they will come with the newer set of skills and training that job demands.
The sky is the limit when it comes to the career possibilities of AME course. If we go by the Boeing’s Technician Outlook 2017-2036, the requirement for AME is going to be ever high in coming years. The pace in which the airlines are expanding their current fleet capacity with new generation aircraft the demand for skilled AMEs is higher than ever. The number of AMEs with relevant certification is less than the actual demand.
Hence, earning a potential of an AME is very high, and most companies offer premium pay package. The students who are currently attending the AME course of planning to join will have much better opportunities waiting for them. As they will be equipped with the latest skills and training that the job requires.
Benefits of Licenses
- The right license ensures the right experience, & Attractive salary packages.
- Better job opportunity with the best in the industry.
- Absolutely essential if you want to be part of the industry in long run.
You will be eligible to get jobs in airports and aircraft manufacturing or maintenance firms So, those who are currently attending the AME course or planning to join will enjoy a higher advantage as they will come with the newer set of skills and training that job demands. As per Boeing’s Technician Outlook 2017-2036, advances in airplane technology will accentuates the need for engineers skilled in avionics, composites and digital troubleshooting. As far as the scenario in the Middle East is concerned, David Longridge, VP Commercial.
Service Sales (Boeing Global Service) said, “With the anticipated demand for pilots, technicians and cabin crew in the Middle East, there is clearly a tremendous need to ensure personnel are available to fill those roles. It is an exciting time to explore how we can use cutting-edge tools and technology to train these crews for tomorrow.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists the median annual wage for aircraft maintenance engineers as $60,270 per year. This can vary based on what industry, AME License Modules Examination across the Globe, country, and location.
- Module 1- Mathematics
- Module 2-Physics
- Module 3-Electrical Fundamentals
- Module 4- Electronic Fundamental
- Module 5- Digital Techniques Electronic Instrument System
- Module 6- Materials and Hardware
- Module 7- Maintenance Practices
- Module 8- Basic Aerodynamics
- Module 9- Human Factors
- Module 10- Aviation Legislation
- Module 11A- Turbine Aeroplane Aerodynamics, Structures and Systems
- Module 11B- Piston Aero plane Aerodynamics, Structures and Systems
- Module 12- Helicopter Aerodynamics, Structures and System
- Module 13- Aircraft Aerodynamics, Structures and System
- Module 14- Propulsion
- Module 15- Gas Turbine Engine
- Module 16- Piston Engine
- Module 17-Propeller
Note:- You have to qualified appropriate system of module examination for competent authority . Module 1 & 2 are omitted for applicant who are pursuing AME Training in India. So those who are currently attending the AME course or planning to join will enjoy a higher advantage as they will come with the newer set of skills and training that job demands.
AME licenses category according to Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Govt. of India.
Category A
Category A licence holder to issue certificates for release to service after minor scheduled line maintenance and simple defect rectification within the limits of maintenance tasks specifically endorsed on the authorisation issued by an Approved maintenance organization and the certification privileges shall be restricted to the work carried out by the licence holder himself in the maintenance organization that issues the authorisation.
Category B1
Category B1 License holder to issue certificates for release to service and act as support staff following the maintenance performed on aircraft structure, power-plant, mechanical and electrical systems, work on avionics system requiring simple tests to prove their serviceability and not requiring trouble shooting, in respect of an aircraft type endorsed on the license.
Category B2
Certificates of release to service after maintenance on avionic and electrical systems, avionics and electrical system within engine and mechanical systems requiring only simple tests to prove their serviceability of aircraft type endorsed on the licence;
(b) Certificates of release to service after minor scheduled line maintenance and simple defect rectification within the limits of tasks specifically endorsed on the certification authorisation issued by an approved maintenance organisation of aircraft type endorsed on the licence and this certification privilege shall be restricted to work that the licence holder has personally performed in the maintenance organisation which issued the certification authorization and limited to the rating already endorsed on the licence.
Category B3
Category B3 licence holders to issue certificates of release to service after maintenance on aeroplane structure, engine and mechanical and electrical systems, work on avionic systems requiring only simple tests to prove their serviceability and not requiring troubleshooting of piston-engine non-pressurised aeroplanes of 2000 kg Maximum Take-off Mass and below.
Category C
Category C license holders to issue certificates of release to service after base maintenance in respect of an aircraft of the type endorsed on the license. The privileges apply to the aircraft in its entirety including all systems.
Category B2L
Category B2L licence holder to issue certificates of release to service and to act as B2L support staff for the maintenance performed on electrical systems; maintenance performed on avionics systems within the limits of the system ratings specifically endorsed on the licence; and when holding the ‘airframe system’ rating, performance of electrical and avionics tasks within power plant and mechanical systems, requiring only simple tests to prove their serviceability.
Category L
Category L licence holder to issue certificates of release to service and to act as L support staff for maintenance performed on aircraft structure, power plant and mechanical and electrical systems; work on radio, Emergency Locator Transmitters and transponder systems; and work on other avionics systems requiring simple tests to prove their serviceability.
(4) The licenses in categories A and B1, in relation to aeroplanes, helicopters, turbine and piston engines, may be granted in the following sub-categories, namely:-
- (a) A1 Aeroplanes Turbine
- (b) A2 Aeroplanes Piston
- (c) A3 Helicopter Turbine
- (d) A4 Helicopter Piston
- (e) B1.1 Aeroplanes Turbine
- (f) B1.2 Aeroplanes Pistons
- (g) B1.3 Helicopter Turbine
- (h) B1.4 Helicopter Piston
