How to Become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) in India

What an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer does

An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) is the licensed professional responsible for inspecting, servicing, repairing and certifying aircraft as fit to fly. Before an aircraft is released to service, a licensed engineer must certify that the required maintenance has been carried out correctly. It is a safety-critical, highly regulated role at the heart of airline and aviation operations.

This is a distinct path from an aerospace or aeronautical engineering degree. An aerospace degree is an academic B.Tech/B.E. focused on design and theory; the AME route is a regulated licensing pathway, governed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), that qualifies you to actually maintain and certify aircraft. The two can complement each other but they are not the same qualification.

Eligibility — who can start the AME path

The core academic requirement, per DGCA, is passing the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from a recognised board (or an equivalent qualification). A recognised diploma in a relevant engineering branch — such as aeronautical, mechanical, electrical or electronics engineering, recognised by a State Technical Education Board — is treated as equivalent to the 10+2 requirement.

DGCA sets a minimum age of 16 years to register as an AME candidate, with no maximum age limit. Because eligibility rules and equivalences can be updated, verify the current criteria on the official DGCA and Pariksha DGCA sources before enrolling anywhere.

• 10+2 pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (recognised board), or an equivalent recognised engineering diploma
• Minimum age 16 to register as an AME candidate; no maximum age limit (per DGCA Pariksha)
• Board Verification Certificates of your qualifications are required as part of registration — check the current requirement on DGCA Pariksha

Train at a DGCA-approved CAR 147 (Basic) institute

Formal training for the AME path is delivered by institutes approved by DGCA under CAR 147 (Basic) — the Civil Aviation Requirements framework for Basic Maintenance Training Organizations. Enrolling at a DGCA-approved organisation is essential, because only approved training counts towards the licensing pathway.

Before paying any institute, confirm directly on the DGCA website that it currently holds valid CAR 147 (Basic) approval — the list of approved organisations is maintained by DGCA and changes over time. Do not rely on an institute's own marketing claims alone; check the official DGCA approved-institute list.

• Choose only a DGCA-approved CAR 147 (Basic) Maintenance Training Organization
• Verify the institute's current approval status on the official DGCA list, not on brochures
• Approved training is aligned to the DGCA licence category modules you intend to pursue

Licence categories: mechanical and avionics streams

The DGCA licence is issued in categories that broadly separate the airframe/engine (mechanical) side from the avionics (electrical/electronic/instrument) side, following the CAR-66 framework. In simple terms, category B1 covers mechanical maintenance of the aircraft structure, engines and mechanical systems, while category B2 covers avionics — the electrical and electronic systems — and there are also lighter certifying categories.

Each category has defined knowledge modules you must pass and specific privileges once licensed. The exact category names, sub-categories and module lists are set out in DGCA's CAR-66 and can be updated, so use the official DGCA source to confirm which category matches your career goal and what modules it requires.

• Category B1 — mechanical (airframe, engines, mechanical/electrical systems, as defined by DGCA)
• Category B2 — avionics (electrical and electronic systems)
• Lighter certifying categories also exist — check CAR-66 for the current full list and privileges

Clear the DGCA examinations (Pariksha)

To become licensed you must pass the DGCA module examinations for your chosen category. These are conducted through the official Pariksha DGCA online examination system, administered by DGCA's Central Examination Organisation. Each candidate is issued a unique Computer Number that tracks their examination journey.

Examination fees, the number of papers, the papers per category and the on-demand versus regular examination options are all specified on the Pariksha DGCA portal and are subject to change. Register and check the current fee and paper structure directly on the official portal rather than assuming figures from elsewhere.

• Examinations are conducted via the official Pariksha DGCA portal
• You receive a unique Computer Number to track your progress
• Fees and the number/structure of papers are set by DGCA — verify the current values on Pariksha DGCA

From exams to the licence: the BAMEL

Passing the required module examinations is one part of qualifying. To be granted a Basic Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence (BAMEL), a candidate must also complete the required practical maintenance experience on aircraft, in line with DGCA rules. The licence is what authorises you to work as a certifying engineer within your category's privileges.

The precise combination of examinations passed and hands-on experience required, and how experience is logged and credited, is defined by DGCA (CAR-66 and Rule 61 of the Aircraft Rules). Because these requirements are detailed and periodically revised, confirm the current experience and licensing rules on the official DGCA source before planning your timeline.

Planning your journey realistically

A practical sequence is: build a strong 10+2 in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (or a relevant recognised diploma), enrol at a DGCA-approved CAR 147 (Basic) institute in your chosen category, pass the DGCA module examinations through Pariksha, and gain the required practical maintenance experience to earn your BAMEL.

Because this is a regulated career, the single most important habit is to verify every rule — eligibility, approved institutes, exam fees, category modules and experience requirements — on the official DGCA and Pariksha DGCA websites. This guide maps the pathway; the current DGCA requirements are always the final authority.