Aircraft Maintenance Engineering or AME is one of the most valuable careers in the modern day. As Aircraft are the lifeline of International/Domestic connectivity.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s are in great demand in fact PSUs like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL). Aircraft Engineering can be exciting for students who are interested in aerospace.
Read this article to find out the complete details about aircraft maintenance engineer and how it’s different from Aircraft Engineer.
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Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Aircraft Engineer & Aircraft Maintenance Engineer they both are different terms and they have different operational duties.
Before moving forward let’s understand the difference between Aircraft Maintenance Engineer & Aircraft Engineer.
Folks who have completed a four year engineering course in aerospace engineering are called aircraft engineers.
AME or aircraft maintenance engineers are those who hold a license after completing a three year course, valid for a certain period of time.
Job Roles of Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers or AME are the technicians in charge of the service and maintenance of the choppers/Helicopters and Aircraft.
Whereas Aircraft Engineers are the ones who design and develop and test aircraft equipment. four-year aircraft engineering course is dedicated to it.
AME or aircraft maintenance engineering is a comparatively very low profile and paid job than aircraft engineers.
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Scope of Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s in India and Internationally
Aircraft Engineer or Aircraft Maintenance Engineer is tremendous. Aircraft engineering as a career can be great a choice.
The Aviation sector in India is reaching new heights with companies like Indigo, Spicejet the ticket prices are very affordable thus more and more people are choosing air-route to save time.
To put it in the frame A320neo’s biggest operator Indigo Airlines struck a deal with airbus for 300 new planes in the year 2019 for around $20billion USD.
Whereas in the year 2020 the talk with CFM started for another 150 additional planes.
So Indian Aviation Sector has a bright future ahead. You can also be part of this booming industry.
Eligibility Criteria for Aircraft Engineer
The basic criteria for any aspirant to join the AME course are that they must have PCM(Physics, Chemistry, Maths) in their 10+2.
Aspirants who want to join four year AME course must fulfill the eligibility criteria:
- The aspirant must clear their 10+2 with PCM(physics, chemistry, maths) with a mimimum of 50% aggregate
- Or the aspirants must have completed their three-year diploma in any branch of engineering from any AICTE approved University/College
- Or the aspirant must have completed B.Sc after 12th with PCM.
- The aspirant must not have color blindness or any physical disabilities
- The aspirants age must be between 16 to 28 years at the time of admission
AME a four-year course that includes two-year theoretical studies and rests two years of practical solutions.
After completion, you can get a decent post but to get a better post you need to study more and finish your master’s with a good aggregate.
For Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering:
Diploma in AME is a three-year engineering program that is divided into two sections. Section A is one-year theoretical knowledge and Section B two year problem solving, repair and testing.
- The aspirant must have completed 10th with a minimum of 45% marks from any recognized board to be eligible for admission
- The aspirant must have a decent score in AME CET
AME Admission and Fees Structure
To take admission in any aeronautical college you must have to clear the entrance exams:
Top Entrance Exams for AME:
After successfully qualifying for the entrance exams you can apply for any DGCA approved Colleges for either Diploma or Engineering in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.
For Diploma in AME, the duration of the course is three years. Folks undergoing diploma program must perform well in both theoretical and practical training.
There are two organizations the courses are affiliated with DGCA and EASA.
Folks who want to work for Government and Domestic jobs opt for courses affiliated with DGCA.
Whereas folks who want to work abroad opt for courses affilated with EASA.
Fees Structure Of AME Courses can vary from college to college but generally, it’s between 2-5 lakh per semester for two years(non-diploma).
After completing two years the next two years is your practical training where you don’t have to pay any college fees in return you get stipends but you have to pay the hostel fees which is roughly Rs. 40000-5000 per semester.
How to Become a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
To get a job as AME you must obtain a license either from DGCA or EASA.
DGCA has a total of 15 modules to obtain a license from DGCA you must clear the modules from your chosen stream.
Whereas EASA has a total of 17 modules to obtain a license from EASA you must clear the modules from your chosen stream.
To get the license from either DGCA or EASA you must have to complete the course from a college affiliated to respective organizations.
You have to clear both the Section A & B exams to get a license from the respective organization.
Top Colleges for Aircraft Maintenance Engineering in India
Remember to choose Colleges whose courses are affiliated with either DGCA or EASA.
So let’s go through the top 5 colleges offering Aircraft Maintenance Engineering courses from where you can get your license:
- Indian Institute Of Aeronautics, Delhi
- Institute of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Gorakhpur
- Center for Civil aviation , Delhi
- Bharat Institute of Aeronautics, Patna
- Regional Institute of Aviation, Kerela
These were some of the best aircraft maintenance engineering colleges in India.
Skills Required & Top Companies Recruiting AME
As an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer there are some skillset you must need to acquire during your course period.
- Problem Solving Ability
- Deep understanding of every part of your field
- Always ready to get your hands dirty
- Extensive communication skills
- Flexibility with working hours
- Good Observation Power
Top Companies that recruit AME’s are:
- Vistara
- Indigo
- Spice Jet
- Go Air
- Blue Dart
- Arrow Aviation Services
- Air India Limited
- Singapore Airline
- Cathay Airways
- Qatar Airline
- Emirates
Salaries Expectations of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers
If you are working for a Foreign Carrier you can expect a salary in the range of Rs.55,000 to Rs. 100,000 per month(according to your post assigned).
If you are working for a domestic carrier then you can expect a salary in the range of Rs.35,000 to Rs.70,000 per month(according to your post assigned).
Although if you have a diploma in AME and you work for a domestic carrier you can expect a starting salary of Rs.15,000 which can go as high as Rs.100,000 per month throughout.
FAQs
What is aircraft maintenance engineering?
Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is the study of Aircraft related technicalities which include maintenance and repair of aircraft.
How to become an aircraft maintenance engineer?
To become an aircraft maintenance engineer there are certain stages that you must clear:
1. You must have at least 50% in 10th for diploma or 50% in 12th with Physics, Chemistry & Maths as core Subjects
2. You must give entrance exams like AME CET, JEE-AME, etc and qualify with a good rank
3. Take admission in any DGCA approved college to complete a course that is three years for Diploma and Four years for B.E
4. After Completion of theory(either one year or two) get hands-on experience with a stipend for two years
5. At last give the final semesters and get the license and now you are ready to be hired.
Can a mechanical engineer become aircraft maintenance engineer?
Absolutely Yes, Colleges approve candidates even if they a have three-year diploma in any engineering field and definitely a mechanical engineer can become a licensed AME and repair aircraft.
Is aircraft maintenance engineering a good career?
Definitely Yes, in fact AME is a great career to choose if you are an aerospace freak who loves airplanes, space shuttles, etc.
All you need is interest, If you are interested AME is a great career choice.
How much do aircraft maintenance engineers make?
AME’s can make anywhere from Rs.15,000 to 150,000 per month depending upon the company and country of operation.
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