Aircraft Maintenance Engineer - How to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer also known as AME is the professional who works in the engineering and maintenance department of an airline and ensures the safe and airworthy aircraft for the airline they are working for. Aircraft Maintenance Engineer is trained to inspect an aircraft, diagnose the snags and solve it at the earliest. They are the professionals who handle the maintenance of the aircraft including its engines, electrical and navigation systems and certify the plane as airworthy before its take off. Their job starts with a complete routine checkup of the plane to make it land safely at its destination for another checkup.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Eligibility

Educational Qualification
Candidates who want to pursue Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Course must have completed 10+2 with at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Age Limits
The upper age limits are 23 years. However upper age limit is relaxed for those who have done B.Sc Non-Medical after their 10+2 class.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Required Skills

• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer should have good mathematical and logical skills.
• They need to be good at organizing, working in teams of cross-sectional skills and as such be able to get on well with people at all levels.
• Applicants should be able to work diligently and patiently so as to do his work with utmost precision as a little mistake can prove fatal for hundreds of lives on board.
• They are also required to constantly update themselves with the latest maintenance techniques and technologies.
• They should also develop good problem-solving skills; have excellent mathematical precision and communication skills.
• They should also be able to apply the principles of science and technology to create aircraft, components and support equipment.
• An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer must be able to resolve issues in quick times into making plane airworthy in time.

How to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer? 

For becoming an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer one has to follow the given steps-

Step 1
After completing their 12^th class with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as the main subjects, they pass B.E. / B.Tech. in Mechanical or Avionics trades OR

They can enrol for a Three Years Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Training Programm having two streams i.e Mechanical – covers jet and piston engines as well as light and heavy aircraft- and Avionics-covers radio navigation, and electrical and instrument system.

The first year of AME training provides basic information about the aircraft rules and regulations.

In the second year, general engineering and maintenance are taught to the students that include subjects like aerodynamics or theory of flight, metallurgy, electronics, handling sophisticated equipment and practical work in machine rooms and on aircraft engines.

In the third year, the training is focused on specific areas like light aircraft, heavy aircraft, piston engine, jet engines or helicopters.

After three years of study, candidates are awarded Basic Aircraft Maintenance Training Certificate followed by an examination by the Director General of Civil Aviation. The successful candidates have issued a license to service the aircraft.

Step 2
After getting the DGCA-AME license the candidates are required to obtain a regulatory license or approval on a particular type of aircraft. If it is an Airbus or Boing one has to obtain an individual license to service that particular type of aircraft.

Step 3
Students of AME course can also appear and qualify as AMAeSI i.e Associate Membership of Aeronautical Society of India). It is considered as equivalent to B.E or B.Tech. program in Aeronautical Engineering by Government of India and candidate can go for M.Tech. in IITs, Birla Institute of Technology Ranchi and Madras Institute of Technology through GATE.

Step 4
After getting the requisite license the AME can find jobs with companies like Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL), Air India, UPSC, BHEL, Defense Research and Development Organization as well as in Indian Air Force and Coast Guards as defence officers.

Some of the Important Institutes offering AME courses

• School of Aviation Science and Technology - Delhi Flying Club
• Indian Institute of Aeronautics, Delhi
• School of Aeronautics and Indian Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, New Delhi
• Hindustan Aviation Academy, Bangalore
• Institute of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Hyderabad
• Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy, Secunderabad.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Job Description 

• The main objective of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s job is the safe journey of an Aircraft from its take off to its landing. For this, every Aircraft need meticulous and consistent maintenance and grooming to fulfil this objective.
• An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer handles the maintenance of an aircraft that includes its engine as well as its electrical and navigation systems. They are involved in overhauling of grounded aircraft at airports, hangers and workshop. Their job profile includes replacing the plane parts, treating corrosion and checking tyres, instruments, wheel flaps etc. They also perform certain diagnostic and mechanical duties covering repair, maintenance, overhaul, troubleshooting besides performing inspections and modification on the aircraft.
• They got opportunities to perform all these duties on sophisticated aircraft systems including commercial jets, military fighter planes, Helicopters and another type of flying machines.
• To do their work flawlessly they are well trained to use specialized aviation and power tools, computers, diagnostic equipment and x-ray machines. While performing their duty they may climb steep ladders or stand on scaffolds, manage other maintenance staff and spend long hours on emergency repairs.
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer is also authorized to inspect the aircraft thus they also perform the required checks and certify a plane fitness.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Career Prospects

India has emerged as the fastest growing economy and developing country in the world even when the whole of the world is facing recession. Due to economic growth and liberalization policies of the Indian government Indian aviation industry has grown tremendously. Many public, as well as private aviation companies like Air India, Jet Airways, Spice jet and many more, are operating with good returns.

To meet the growing need of passage airlines, Cargo Aircrafts, Private Air Taxis, Business and Corporate gets and Defense Aircrafts there is ever growing need of Air Craft Maintenance Engineers.

As more and more airlines start operations in private sectors there will be an increase in demand for aircraft maintenance engineers. Even now Aircraft maintenance engineers readily find jobs in aircraft manufacturing or maintenance firms as well as airports. They can find jobs as Aircraft Maintenance Engineers at Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL), Air India, UPSC, BHEL, Defense Research and Development Organization as well as in Indian Air Force and Coast Guards as defence officers.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Salary 

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer can earn a good salary, even as a trainee with an organisation, they can get about Rs. 30,000 to Rs.40,000 or more per month. After a couple of year experience, they can easily get around Rs.80,000 to Rs.1,00,0000 per month along with all the added benefits depending upon the company.