AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ENGINEERING (AME) - AN OVERVIEW

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is a professional program, after completing which students become eligible to certify the airworthiness of Aircraft before each flight or after any minor or major repair and maintenance. They also certify the Airworthiness or issue the flight release certificate concerning the Aircraft Component after minor or major repairs. Aircraft Maintenance Engineering candidates are the highest-paid engineers in the world, in comparison to any other branch of engineering. The financial development of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is too fast.

SCOPE OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ENGINEERING (AME)

As per the diagram above, based on CAPA data, there is a significant demand for Aircraft Maintenance Engineering professionals worldwide. According to estimates, in the Asia Pacific region alone, there is a demand for 2,56,000 engineers. According to the world figures, we need 648,000 Aircraft Maintenance Engineering personnel. These are the demand figures from 2017 to 2036, i.e. approximately 20 years.

Looking at the figures above for the Asia Pacific region, even with a 100% pass rate, India will produce only 2200 candidates per year, which means approximately 44000 trained Aircraft Maintenance Engineering personnel in 20 years. India and China, among the largest countries in this region, will be able to provide approximately 1 lac trained manpower. The remaining small countries will contribute approximately 25000 trained manpower. Considering all these figures, the scope of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering personnel is too high in the market.

Indian government’s open sky policy, regional connectivity policy, and tax exemptions on the MRO industry are boosting the Indian Aviation Industry to achieve laurels in the field. A lot of new Aircraft are being imported by Airlines, Scheduled operators, Non-Scheduled operators, and Business house owners. All these factors are increasing the demand for skilled Aircraft Maintenance Engineering personnel.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering personnel can apply for jobs in approximately 250 companies in India. Some of the companies and domains of aviation-related companies are as follows:

• BSF, HAL, Taneja Aerospace, Mahendra Aerospace, Civil Aviation Department, DGCA, Scheduled Airlines, Non-Scheduled Airlines, Private Airlines, Government Airlines, MRO, AMO, TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS, etc.

About The Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Program

The DGCA has approved training for the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program at SOA. The license Examination is conducted by the DGCA. The training at the institute lasts 2 years, spread over 4 semesters. These 2 years have 2400 hours of planned training, out of which 2050 Hrs will be in classrooms and labs, and 350 hours will be in the actual maintenance environment, i.e. at MRO. School of Aeronautics has tied up with Air India, which is India’s largest MRO. The Total Aviation Experience requirement for obtaining a B1.1 or B2 license is as per CAR 66. To obtain an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering License in the B2 category, students must clear 10 DGCA module examinations, whereas for the B1.1 category, students must clear 11 DGCA module examinations. The School of Aeronautics also provides conversion courses from B1.1 to B2 or B2 to B1.1.

Different types of airframes and Airframe Components, Engines and Engine Components, Aircraft Instrument System Components, and Radio and Aircraft electrical equipment in our workshop allow the student to study various theories of Mechanical/avionics in an aircraft. The reference books, periodicals, aviation magazines, and textbooks in our library keep students abreast of developments in the aviation field. In short, SOA provides all the facilities to make a student a successful Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

The course is meant to prepare students for obtaining an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer License in various categories, issued by DGCA after the student has passed the DGCA-conducted module examination.

Eligibility Criteria for Admission into the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) Program

The minimum qualification for admission to the course is a pass.

i. 10+2 pre-degree/intermediate or equivalent with Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry / B.Sc with Maths, Physics & Chemistry.

ii. Diploma in Engineering.

Medical Standards For Admission Into Aircraft Maintenance Engineering

The student will have to produce a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner with a minimum MBBS qualification certifying that he/she has no physical disability and that his/her colour vision is normal.

Requirement To Hold A Licence Under Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Licence

To be granted authorization to issue certificates of release to service a person must hold a valid Aircraft Maintenance Engineering licence issued by Part-66. The minimum age to have a Part-66 license is 18 years. To certify, the minimum age is 21.

How To be an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Under Part-66

Under Part-66, an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering license confirms that the person to whom it refers has met the Part-66 knowledge and experience requirements for any aircraft basic category and aircraft type rating specified in the document.

Types of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering License

The license is broadly divided between Mechanical and Avionic trade disciplines, although, given the various technologies and combinations applicable to specific aircraft, the Mechanical license category is further subdivided. In addition, multiple levels within the license allow the holder to be authorised to perform particular roles within line and/or base maintenance. These reflect different levels of task complexity and are supported by different standards of experience and knowledge. An individual may hold multiple license categories.

The categories within the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering license are:

• Category A: Maintenance Certifying Mechanic
• Category B1: Maintenance Certifying Technician (Mechanical)
• Category B2: Maintenance Certifying Technician (Avionics)
• Category C: Base Maintenance Certifying Engineer

Category A of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering License

Category A is further divided into subcategories as follows:

• A1: Aeroplanes Turbine
• A2 : Aeroplanes Pisto
• A3: Helicopter Turbine
• A4: Helicopters Piston

The experience demonstrated in the application must be relevant to the sub-category of the license being applied for and must satisfy specific criteria regarding recency.

Experience Requirements

An applicant for a category A license must have completed a prescribed period of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering experience. This experience should include minor scheduled line maintenance and simple defect rectification on operating aircraft. Category A applicants should have at least 2 years of practical maintenance experience in operating aircraft.

Category B1 of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering License

The B1 license is mechanical-based and permits the holder to issue certificates of release to service following line maintenance, including aircraft structure, power plants, and mechanical and electrical systems. Replacement of avionic line-replaceable units that require simple tests without the use of test equipment to prove their serviceability is also included in the privileges of this license. 

The B1 license is subdivided into sub-categories as follows:

• B1.1: Aeroplanes Turbine-Engine
• B1.2: Aeroplanes Piston-Engines
• B1.3: Helicopters Turbine-Engine
• B1.4: Helicopters Piston-Engines

Experience Requirement: Aircraft Maintenance Engineering B1 Category

An applicant for a category B1 license must have completed a prescribed period of aircraft maintenance experience. This experience must be relevant to the required license category and to the maintenance experience of operating aircraft. This experience should include maintenance of aircraft structure, powerplant, mechanical, and electrical systems, and the replacement of avionic LRUs, with simple tests to verify their serviceability. Candidates should have at least 4 years of practical maintenance experience in operating aircraft.

Category B2 of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering License

The B2 license is avionic-based and permits the holder to issue certificates of release to service, following line maintenance on avionic systems. A Category B2 license holder also has a role in base maintenance.

The B2 Aircraft Maintenance Engineering license broadly covers the following areas:

• Instrument Systems
• Automatic Pilot Systems (fixed and rotary wing), including Auto-throttle and Auto-land Systems
• Radio Communication, Navigation and Radar Systems
• Electrical Power Generation and Distribution to Avionic Systems

Experience Requirements For Obtaining an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Licence in the B2 Category

An applicant for a Category B2 Aircraft Maintenance Engineering license must have completed a prescribed period of aircraft maintenance experience. This experience is relevant to the license category sought and to the maintenance experience of operating aircraft in avionic and electrical systems. Category B2 applicants should have at least 4 years of practical maintenance experience in operating aircraft.

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ENGINEERING SUBJECTS

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is a 2-year program divided into 4 semesters. The semester has theoretical and practical classes as per DGCA norms. Every semester will have 40% theory classes and 60% practical classes. You are doing Aircraft Maintenance Engineering at the School of Aeronautics, which gives you a notch over other college students in respect of PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE. Over these two years, you will undertake practicals specifically designed to meet industry requirements.

For students, the first semester is typical across all branches, comprising general engineering subjects; from the second semester onwards, you will have core subjects and program-related subjects. Modules 1 and 2 are not applicable in India—list of module subjects for the students in various categories.

• • • Module 3-Electrical Fundamentals.
    • Module 4- Electronic Fundamentals.
    • Module 5- Digital Techniques/Electronic Instrument Systems.
    • Module 6-Materials and Hardware.
    • Module 7A-Maintenance Practices.
    • Module 7B-Maintenance Practices.
    • Module 8-Basic Aerodynamics.
    • Module 9A-Human factors.
    • Module 9B-Human factors.
    • Module 10-Aviation Legislation.
    • Module 11A-Turbine Aeroplane Aerodynamics, Structures and Systems.
    • Module 11B-Piston Aeroplane Aerodynamics, Structures and Systems.
    • Module 12- Helicopter Aerodynamics, Structures and Systems.
    • Module 13-Aircraft Aerodynamics, Structures and Systems.
    • Module 14-Propulsion.
    • Module 15-Gas Turbine Engine.
    • Module 16-Piston Engine.
    • Module 17A-Propeller.
    • Module 17B-Propeller.