Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

Training programmes as specifically spelt out by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of India can handle such aircrafts. In India, there are many recognised institutes to conduct the course of AME. The remuneration in this field is among the highest in the country. Sources say that engineers in the Indian Airlines, the Air India, and other private airlines roughly start on a gross salary of Rs 40,000 which goes up to Rs 1.25 lakhs per month. Generally government approved institutes teach the syllabus given by the DGCA for the AME. After the completion of the course and passing the internal examination, candidates’ forms are forwarded to the DGCA which then awards license to the successful engineers. This license is recognised throughout the country as well as abroad. The minimum qualification for enrollment to these institutes is 10 plus two or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. If a degree or diploma engineer of any stream wants entrance in maintenance field, he also has to undergo the same procedure. Some AME institutes are giving merit scholarship to bright students for different stages of institutional and DGCA examination for better performance.

All aircraft, with the exception of certain homebuilt and ultralight planes, must carry a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and now an Airworthiness Review Certificate to be legally allowed to fly. In order for this certificate to remain valid, all maintenance on the aircraft must be certified by a licensed AME. All aircraft are maintained periodically in accordance with the Aircraft Maintenance Schedule which comes from the manufacturer of the aircraft and must be approved by local aviation authority. Also, AMEs must rectify defects, which are reported by pilots/cabin crew or found by any maintenance personnel, in accordance with Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMM), Illustrated Part Catalogues (IPC), and Wiring Diagram Manuals (WDM). All work performed will be periodically reviewed by Quality Assurance Department (which consists of AMEs as well)if applicable, and with Local Aviation Authority. Also, from time to time, audits are carried out by Quality Assurance Department and Local Aviation Authority on AMEs. Therefore, AMEs carry considerable legal responsibility for ensuring that work has been performed in accordance with the applicable standards of airworthiness.
[edit]Licensing

Most people become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer by attending a Certified School registered under the National Airworthiness Authority of that country. In what is typically an 18 to 24 month program, they must learn everything that is required for maintenance of a typical airplane. This is followed by an apprenticeship period which usually takes a minimum of 4 years. (Depending on the school attended, a portion of that time may count towards their apprenticeship.)
Students attend approved training 9 weeks a year over a period of 4 years while the student works in industry, on-job training (OJT). This allows the apprentice to complete their training and apprenticeship virtually at the same time.
AMEs must also learn all of the sections of the Local Aviation Regulations which pertain to them. Once the AME has completed this and pass the necessary exams, the AME will be given a Licence Without Type Rating (LWTR) for the relevant trade. In order to be type certified/type rated, AMEs must either go for another exam with the Local Aviation Authority for a specific type aircraft, normally small aircraft (based on aircraft weight); or attend a course and exam with the Quality Assurance Department of an Approved Organization/Airlines, normally for larger aircraft.
The different categories/trades are:
Airframe structures
Electrical systems
Instruments systems
Automatic pilots system
Radio communication system
Radio navigation system
Radar system
In-flight entertainment (IFE) system
Engine system
Propeller system
Note: Some trades are broken down further, fixed wing and rotary wing.
Also, in time, AMEs can advance and diverse to other sides of aircraft maintenance engineering, such as to quality assurance department as inspectors, to maintenance planning department, and so on.