The work at the skilled craftsmen involves the repair, rebuilding or overhauled, maintenance and servicing of the aircraft used in aviation.

Getting the license is very important to become an AME. AME License is the mandatory qualification to maintain and certify the aircraft. AME must hold the license. 

What  is the role of an AME?

Diagnose the mechanical or electrical problems in an aircraft. Repairing wings, brakes, electrical system, and other aircraft components. replacing defective parts using hand tools or power tools.

Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians repair and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft.

Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians work in hangars, in repair stations, or on airfields. The environment can be loud because of aircraft engines and equipment.

An aircraft maintenance engineer is responsible for ensuring an aircraft operates properly and safely. This job entails assessing and handling repairs, performing regular inspections, and updating aircrafts as needed. Individuals in this role must be trained and certified as well as complied with all DGCA regulations. 

There are basically two types of AMEs 

Mechanical(B1): a B1 license focuses on the airframes and engines of an aircraft. For example : the engines, turbines, airframes, etc.

Furthermore B1 is future divided into three more categories as follows:

B1.1: maintenance of jet engines aeroplanes.

B1.2: (piston engine):deals with the maintenance of the piston engines aeroplanes.

B1.3: (turbine engines with rotary wings): deals with the maintenance of jet engines and helicopters.

Avionics (B2): licence is related to the instrumentation and electrical equipment. Basically what is in the cockpit of an aircraft is dealt by an B2 licence holder AME. for eg the radar, navigation, GPS etc.

Why is an AME license required? 

Getting the licence is very important to become an AME. AME License is the mandatory qualification to maintain and certify the aircraft. AME must hold the licence. 

Why is AME  a licensed course not a degree?

The licence is issued in a professional course. AME is also a licence programme. The licence is equivalent to a degree in the aviation industry. 

Course details:

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) is a 4-year internationally-based license course. After the completion of the 12th exam with a PCM or 3-year Engineering Diploma, the candidates will be able to pursue the AME course. The applicants, whilst the whole course, will undergo academics and practical training in the Airline or Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO). The candidates should focus on the training because practical training is the best way to confirm the placements in the top organizations in Aviation.

The aircraft maintenance engineer(AME) course is a program designed to train the individuals to become certified aircraft maintenance engineers. The course typically consists of both theoretical and practical training, conveying topics such aircrafts systems, maintenance procedure and regulation.

The course is divided into two years, for semesters.

The course is usually 2400 hours in length, and upon completion, graduates will have the skills and knowledge to pass the DGC, Govt of India licensing exam and become a certified AME. The course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to  maintain, repair and overhaul aircraft, and to ensure that aircraft are safe and airworthy.

AME course eligibility criteria:

The Aircraft Maintenance Engineering AME course eligibility criteria vary depending on the institute and the level of the course. However, here are some general guidelines:

Education Qualification: the minimum educational qualification required to pursue an AME  course is usually a 10+2 or equivalent in Physics, chemistry, and mathematics. 

Age Limit: the minimum age limit to pursue the course is usually 17 years,

Medical Fitness: candidates are required to to be medically fit as per say the DGCA guidelines to pursue an AME course.

AME Career scope:

The career scope for AME professionals is quite broad and offers a wide range of job opportunities, including positions with airlines,maintenance, repair and overhaul(MRO provider, and aircraft manufacturers.

Airline Maintenance: AMEs can work for airlines as maintenance engineers, responsible for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft systems and components

MRO: AMEs can work for Maintenance, repair and overhaul providers which are companies that specialized in maintenance of the aircraft for airlines and other customers.

Aircraft Manufacturing: AMEs can also work for aircraft manufacturing  in the research and development, testing and production of aircrafts systems and components.

Self employment: AMEs can also start their own maintenance and repair and overhaul workshop or consultancy service.

Government jobs: AMEs can also work in government organization’s like Indian Air force, Indian Navy, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Airports Authority of India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) etc.

Future of aviation in India:

By 2024 India will become the third largest aviation market in the world. 

A rising population in the middle income households, healthy competition amongst low cost carriers, infrastructure building at leading airports and supportive policy framework has given a positive push to the aviation sector.

The rise in demands for air travel in India has necessitated the development of a robust ecosystem and supportive government policies.

Day by day the number of travellers in india board gradually accelerated which is report as the industry quadrupled in size and expected passengers to be tripled around 560 ,illioms by 2037. Notably, the Indian aviation industry is the third-largest aviation industry in the world and stands 5th largest market regarding aircraft passengers in both domestic and international.

The Indira Gandhi international airport in Delhi is set to dilate in order to augment passengers, which subsmine new instalments such as terminal point, additional runway and other advanced facilities. 

On the government side they are working diligently to maintain the sustainability of the Indian aviation industry by providing financial services to many airports across the country under the UDAN schemes for advancement and development.

At the same time, Zurich airport international is collaborating to design or operate Noida international airport for the next 40 years on the development of Jewar Airport.

Prior to march 2022 the Airports Authority of India concurred to establish runways at seven airports across the country.

Aviation industry is the business sector in which all types of aircraft are manufactured and operated. According to the International Air Transport Association(IATA), Indian Aviation Industry is the fastest growing aviation industry in the world and is set to be the third largest aviation market in the world by 2024. 

Indian aviation is a highly developing country and as the third largest aviation industry in terms of domestic traffic, the scope for Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is touching new heights and since the following factors have been affecting the demand for the AME: 

There is a huge shortage of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) in the whole world. There is a requirement of 7,54,000 licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) worldwide as the licence is valid internationally.

The UDAN scheme plays an important role in boosting the AME scope. The scheme makes the airfare affordable for common people to travel through the flight.

The growth rate of air passengers is around 25% leading to the requirement for new aircraft and Engineers in Aviation.

Boeing and Airbus set up their MRO Organization in Different states of India which builds thousands of jobs for young engineers.

India has put its first step on the manufacturing of Civil Aircraft which hikes the opportunities for Aircraft Engineers.

The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has opened 5 new labs in Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. These 5 new labs will be led by under-35 directors and young military scientists.

Conclusion

The aviation industry in India is blooming and all set to set new records in future with great opportunities for the career related to the field.