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Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) — DGCA-Licensed

8 min read · Licensed by DGCA (CAR-66) · Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry & Maths

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) inspect, repair and certify aircraft as safe to fly. The licence is issued by DGCA under its CAR-66 rules after you pass DGCA module exams and gain practical experience — usually starting with a basic training course at a DGCA-approved (CAR-147) organisation. It is a licence, not just a degree.

📍 See The Journey / Full Roadmap
Licence
AME licence (CAR-66) [1]
Categories
B1 mechanical, B2 avionics [1]
Minimum age
18 for the licence [1]
Regulator
DGCA [1]
Mapped Institutions & Degrees6 verified institutions · by state & city

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME)Class 12 (PCM) + institute admission

Chhattisgarh1
Gujarat1
Odisha1
Tamil Nadu2
Uttar Pradesh1
Compare all Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) colleges in the finder
Overview

What does an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer do?

  • AMEs inspect, troubleshoot and repair airframes, engines, systems and avionics, and sign the certificate of release to service that says an aircraft is fit to fly.
  • Category B1 covers structures, powerplant, mechanical and electrical systems; B2 covers avionics and electrical systems.
  • Work happens in hangars and on the airport apron, often in shifts, including nights.
Fit check

Who should become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

✔ Ideal for you if…

  • Enjoy hands-on technical work and careful, checklist-driven tasks.
  • Want an aviation career without the cost of pilot training.
  • Are comfortable with shift work and responsibility for safety.

✖ Reconsider if…

  • Want a desk job.
  • Find detailed manuals and repeated exams tiring.
  • Are not willing to keep updating skills for new aircraft types.
Eligibility

What you need, stage by stage

  • Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics for CAR-147 basic training courses (or a relevant engineering diploma/degree).
  • Minimum age 18 to be issued an AME licence.
  • Pass the DGCA CAR-66 module examinations for your category.
  • Complete the practical maintenance experience DGCA requires for your category before applying.
Step-by-step

Your full path to becoming an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

  1. Start here

    Class 12 PCM

    The standard academic base.

  2. Step 2

    DGCA-approved CAR-147 training

    Check the approval on dgca.gov.in before paying fees.

  3. Exam gate

    CAR-66 module exams

    Booked on eGCA; modules depend on B1 or B2.

  4. Step 4

    Practical experience

    Hands-on work at an airline or approved maintenance organisation (MRO).

  5. Licence

    AME licence

    Apply to DGCA once modules and experience are complete.

  6. Goal

    Type ratings and growth

    Add aircraft types; move to certifying and supervisory roles.

Want the exact step-by-step journey?

Eligibility, exams and cycles, training and final qualification for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, in order, with official links.

📍 See The Journey / Full Roadmap
Exams & licences

DGCA modules, licence and ratings

CAR-66 modulesSubject modules (maths, physics, electrical, aerodynamics, systems, regulations and more) set by DGCA. [1]
Exam bookingDGCA exams are applied for and results tracked on the eGCA / Pariksha portals. [2]
Licence categoriesB1 (mechanical) and B2 (avionics); the current CAR-66 replaced the old separate airframe/engine/radio licences. [1]
Type ratingTraining on a specific aircraft lets you certify that type. [1]
Many institutes advertise “AME courses”. Only DGCA-approved CAR-147 organisations count — the list is on the DGCA website.
Indicative figures

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer pay in India

Private-sector pay varies a lot by employer and city; these are broad, commonly reported ranges, not guarantees.

Trainee / technicianEntry level

Pay before the licence is modest.

Licensed AMEBig jump

A licence with type ratings is what employers pay for.

Senior certifying engineerHigh

Experience on wide-body or popular types is valued in India and abroad.

Where they work

Employers & growth path

EmployersAirlines, maintenance-repair-overhaul (MRO) companies, helicopter and charter operators, flying schools
Growth pathTrainee → licensed AME → certifying engineer → shift/quality manager
AbroadLicence conversion may be needed to work in other countries
Honest take

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

  • Aviation career with lower training cost than flying.
  • Licensed, in-demand skill.
  • Clear growth with type ratings.

Disadvantages

  • Many module exams and years of experience before the licence.
  • Shift work, nights and pressure to turn aircraft around safely.
  • Low pay until licensed.
Common myths

Myths vs facts

MYTH An AME diploma from any institute gives you a licence.
FACT

Only DGCA issues the licence, after modules and experience.

Related careers
Commercial PilotDGCA CPL & airline flyingView guide
Aerospace EngineeringAircraft designView guide
Mechanical EngineeringMachines & manufacturingView guide
Electronics EngineeringAvionics-related skillsView guide
Good to know

Frequently asked questions

No. AME is a DGCA licence. Some institutes pair training with a degree, but the licence comes from DGCA exams and experience.
B1 covers mechanical systems, structures and engines; B2 covers avionics and electrical systems.
Look for it on DGCA's list of approved CAR-147 training organisations.
Training organisations and airlines ask for Physics, Chemistry and Maths, so Commerce alone is not enough.

*Pay figures are indicative unless they quote an official pay level, and rules change: confirm eligibility, dates and fees on the official websites listed under Sources before you act.

Sources & verification

Where these facts come from

Rules, exams and rankings on this page are taken from the official bodies below. Always confirm dates and fees on the official website before you act.

  1. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) (opens in a new tab) CAR-66 licensing, CAR-147 approved training organisations, licence categories
  2. eGCA — DGCA online services portal (opens in a new tab) Module exam applications and licence services
Show these sources as Markdown (to copy or cite) 
**Sources — Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) — DGCA-Licensed (https://emargdarshan.com/aircraft-maintenance-engineer.html)**
1. [Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)](https://www.dgca.gov.in/) — CAR-66 licensing, CAR-147 approved training organisations, licence categories
2. [eGCA — DGCA online services portal](https://egca.gov.in/) — Module exam applications and licence services

Spotted something out of date? Email margdarshan07support10@gmail.com with the official link and we will update it.