Aircraft Maintenance Engineering – Everything That You Need To Know

Aircraft maintenance engineering is not that popular as compared to its counterparts. And this is the reason; the field is often subjected to confusion. Helping you out, here is the detailed info on this.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering

Many might think of Aircraft maintenance engineering, AME as any other degree or a diploma course. This is however not the complete truth because Aircraft maintenance engineering is more off a training programme for any candidate who is interested in pursuing a career in Aircraft maintenance engineering and henceforth has to undertake. With the aviation sector growing at a rapid pace with its advanced and sophisticated aircrafts, technological inventions and a more open sky policy allowing new operators to enter the market and various other factors has helped the sector by working as an attraction for many people who now want to pursue a career that is in one way or the other connected with the field of aviation.  Fuelling the interest of many pursuant of this field is also the large network of domestic airlines in the country and also the several international airlines that operate from within the country. This has helped broaden the horizon for many.

What is Aircraft Maintenance Engineering?

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering deals with the task of maintaining an aircraft and keeping it in an ideal condition to fly. The aircraft maintenance engineer repairs and maintains an aircraft in order to ensure flight safety. An aircraft can not take flight without the previous consent of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

Procedure and eligibility

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is a three year long training programme that is offered by many prestigious colleges across the country and the candidates who complete their training successfully are issued a license by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). However you must ascertain that the university is approved by the DGCA before you join it. The training process is rigorous and you will find that only a few selected universities offer training on heavy aircrafts and engines.

The eligibility criteria for the candidates who are interested in acquiring admission in an institute for the training is that they should have passed their 10+2 examinations with minimum 50% marks in aggregate in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. You can also seek admission for this course if you have acquired a diploma in any branch of engineering be it a B.Sc degree holder.

There is no discrimination on the basis of your gender. Any one who is interested in undertaking this training course and satisfies the eligibility criteria is welcome to undergo the training to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

The approximate cost of availing this training is around Rs.1.5 lakh but may vary from university to university. As stated above that it is only after you receive a license from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is your training complete and you can pursue your career as a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

Top colleges

Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy, School of Aviation Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Aeronautics, School of Aeronautics, Indian Institute of Aeronautical Science, VSM Aerospace, Hindustan Aviation Academy.

Career options
After receiving your license you are competent to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, AME you can also qualify for Associate Membership of Aeronautical Society of India, you can also find a well paying job as an engineer with the eminent firms and companies like BHEL, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), Private and Government airlines, among others.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Colleges: Grooming Future Engineers with Aeronautical Engineering

Any plane, used as a public transport cannot fly unless it meets the technical specifications certified by the director general of civil aviation. Thankfully, the list of Best AME colleges in India includes the institutions that have the necessary infrastructure and training staff to impart knowledge to the students in detail. Many fly by night operators have opened institutes with scant regards to the quality of teaching. They do not impart practical knowledge but lay stress on theoretical training. Hence, it is better for the students to avoid such institutes and take admission only in the reputed ones.

 Things to consider

Prior to joining the education institution, check whether it is registered with the directorate of the civil aviation. The premises of the institute should be big and spacious with well-stocked libraries for guiding the students to assimilate knowledge. You can enroll into mechanical or avionics stream based on individual requirements and specifications. Under the mechanical section, you can opt for heavy and light air craft maintenance. Moreover, the instructor provides detailed information regarding piston and the jet engine of the aircraft. You will know the mechanism of functioning inside out and will be ready to rectify the problems faced by the machines. Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Colleges help to diversify the skill sets of the students so that they can take up the challenging assignments in the aviation sector.

Another stream that you can look into is avionics where you can learn about the radio navigation and Digital system of the airplane. In addition, you can also become an expert in the field of instruments system. The syllabus of the course is prescribed by the DGCA and it perfectly suits the requirements of International civil aviation organization and the European Aviation safety agency.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidate who wants to join the Aviation engineering course should complete 10+2 with Math, physics and chemistry. Moreover, the concerned person should be physically fit because aircraft maintenance engineering is a physically demanding job. Students must submit complete documents regarding education qualification to eliminate any discrepancy during the time of admission. To start with, you need to submit attested copies of date of birth certificate to the relevant authorities. In addition, the candidate must also furnish two passport-sized photos along with 10+2 mark sheet.

Once selected, the students will learn various facets of aviation legislation and functioning of different parts of the airplane. For instance, separate subject is prescribed for the aerodynamic structure of the Turbine engine. Students in mechanical stream should pursue the course with dedication to become a hard-core professional in the future. Must take admission in the India's best institutes of  aeronautical engineering  admission.

Another factor considered during training is the quality of the trainers. They must be expert in honing the electronic and the electrical concepts of the candidates. The mechanical parts of the airplane are controlled by the avionics; therefore, students should have comprehensive knowledge to address the problems arising in the machine.  Authorities have introduced Special courses related to the digital techniques and instrumentation systems to enhance the understanding of the candidates.

Instructors make sure that the knowledge is not imparted in a standalone mode but is connected to the bigger picture of aircraft maintenance engineering. Best practices of repairing are taught to the students in conformance with the guidelines laid out by the Directorate of Civil aviation. Total duration of the course is 3 years, which spans across 6 semesters. Every student is provided on job training in the last year to ensure that he or she is ready to accept the challenges of the job.

Career Opportunities with Aviation Industry

When it comes to making a list of jobs in aviation, people get stuck with only flight crew, and most instantly with “Pilots” and “Air hostess”. However, to their surprise, flight crew are the smallest part of the whole picture that keeps an airplane flying.

Most jobs in airline offer prestige, excitement along with best salaries and fantastic benefits. A few benefits include – vacation pay, sick pay, comprehensive insurance plans, basic accidental death and dismemberment coverage, basic life insurance, flexible spending accounts, discounted airfare for employee and his or her immediate family on other airlines and absolutely free airfare for employee and his or her immediate family on company airline.

Typically, airlines require employees for a large number of positions owing to their diverse nature. So, it is expected that you will be able to find your dream job in the field of aviation.

Cabin Crew Jobs

Apart from having a well-groomed appearance, a perfect hair-do and a happy to help approach, cabin crew have a lot of serious duties to perform. As a passenger, people have probably never considered the fact the crew is there to do more jobs that making sure that you have your set of headphones in place and is provided with a drink as and when required.

Airline Administrative Support

Big and small, every airline needs support staff to manage their administrative tasks, keeping the ground office running efficiently. The positions here include - data entry workers, secretaries, receptionists, HR, PR and communications specialists.

Airline Operations Agent

The chief duty of the Airline Operations Agent is to monitor the footfall for passengers, luggage and even the amount of fuel. The job requires the agent to make sure that all luggage or cargo is securely and properly strapped in to the dedicated compartments.

Avionics Technicians

Avionics Technicians carry out repair and maintenance work on airplanes, spacecraft and helicopters. While there are aircraft mechanics who focus on the flying machine’s physical components, Avionics technicians work on the electronic system of the same. This is the most exciting job opportunity. There are sources who provide updated List of Top AME Colleges, providing training programs that are best in the country.

Flight Dispatcher

The Flight Dispatcher with airline captain contribute 50/50 responsibility and decision making for the safety of every flight. Working at the ground level, Flight Dispatcher, in the control centre or airline operations office while making use of computers, weather charts impart information to the airline captain.

Aviation Meteorologist

As the name goes, the job of Aviation Meteorologist is to provide up-to-date weather information to both flight dispatchers and airline captain. It is important for them to analyse and process current weather conditions, which include – speed and direction of wind, precipitation and cloud cover.

Ramp Planner

The responsibility of a Ramp planner is to dispatch service units, fuellers, cleaners, food service trucks and baggage handlers while keeping track of arriving aircraft. He or she must know flight schedules.

Airline Flight Instructor

Again, the name says it all, an airline flight instructor is liable for providing updated trainings for the captains/pilots. These instructors are mostly senior pilots working for the same airline or are hired from different airlines.

For more information on job titles and course related queries or for finding the most updated List of Top AME Colleges, visit http://staraviationindia.org/

AME Training Institute in India – Preparing youths to fly high

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is an interesting career option which has great opening. However, it lags behind when it comes to having experienced engineers who could do justice to the job. Consequently, many AME Training Institute in India are eagerly waiting to train the students and make them eligible for maintaining the aircraft. The job is of immense responsibility, which tends the institutes to look for trainees who will be able to perform properly and make the country as well as the institutes proud. So, if you are passionate about planes, then you should definitely give a thought to visiting this kind of institutes. 

Little light on the subject

Being an AME means having the license to examine and adjudge any aircraft to be airworthy. Before any aircraft prepares to fly, it needs to be checked thoroughly to assure the safety of the passengers and also the crew members. In order to understand and point out the fault, the license holder needs to have appropriate knowledge of the vehicle, its parts, and their workings. This is where training institutes play their role effectively as they help the novices to become an expert by teaching them.

Things to consider while choosing AME Institute

The concerned AME Training institute in India should have the approval of the Director General of Civil Aviation. It should be very particular about the infrastructure that they provide to their students. Here are some more things to look for.

• Aims not only to teach them the basics but also to groom them according to their job. 
• Chooses its candidates accordingly and shapes their insight about aircraft.
• Offers all the basic and additional facilities like interactive classes, library, lab, seminar rooms, audiovisuals etc. to hone the mind.
• Keeps an aircraft within its campus, so as to give its students first-hand idea about the machine and its mechanisms.
• Brushes up the technical awareness of its students as at present the aircraft are leaning towards computer-based operating systems for safety.
• Arranges for hostels, canteens etc. so that the students can stay and utilize their time. 

Valuable Linkages

If you are worried about the authenticity of the institute, then you should take a look at the linkages it has with other reputed names and you will understand how strong the bond is. DGCA is the backbone of this field, it backs the related institutes and holds tests at regular intervals thereby appointing license to worthy engineers. Hence, as a result, the students of these institutes are able to secure jobs in well-known airlines. Apart from this, the institutes also have links with renowned bodies like EASA, European Aviation Safety Agency to inculcate within India modern methodologies and enhance the teaching techniques. Hence, if you are ready to take responsibility and are eager to learn new things, then, do knock the door of the best of these training institutes.

Summary: Institutions indeed play important role in giving the necessary push to any individual and the same holds for aviation field. If you also want to join this field, it is high time to seek admission in a reputed AME training institute in India. 

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering – A serious and responsible career option

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) saves thousands of lives every year by inspecting in detail the aeroplanes for their safety and fly worthiness. An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer has to take in consideration all aspects of a plane, not only before flight takes off the ground but also after the flight. His job is to check the routine maintenance issues and fix them properly. AME’s should boast the attributes like dedicated, devotion and focus towards their job. 

Their job is demanding, as they have to perform their duty under stressful and uncomfortable conditions. There is a lot of difference between Aeronautical Engineering and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME). An Aeronautical Engineer has to deal with design and manufacturing of aircrafts whereas Aircraft Maintenance Engineering involves looking after the servicing of aircrafts to maintain their flying worthiness. 

Both men and women can apply for the training course in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. After completing the training program, aspirants have to apply for aircraft maintenance license. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will issue the license to successful candidates. Each license issued is compatible for a particular aircraft. For example if an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer gets a license for maintaining a fighter aeroplane he is authorised for inspecting and maintaining only fighter aeroplanes and only he can certify its fitness.

Career Prospects

With aircraft maintenance training and license, one is able to work with commercial airlines, the government or a military wing or aviation administration. If a candidate has imbibed the training course satisfactorily, his opportunities are endless. Aircraft Maintenance Engineers easily find jobs in aircraft maintenance firms and in airports. Optionally AME course students can also appear and qualify Associate Membership of Aeronautical Society of India or AMAeSI that is equivalent to Bachelor of Engineer, Bachelor of Technology and Aeronautical Engineering. Candidates can land jobs in firm like BHEL, coast guard, DRDO, India Air force, Air India, HAL, UPSC so on and so forth. 

Choose a right institute

Choosing a career in Aircraft maintenance needs a serious thought. An aspirant should have a penchant for repairing and maintaining things. Above all much depends on which training institute chosen for Aircraft Maintenance Engineering training.  One can easily find list of best AME colleges offering training courses in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering on the internet. Aspirants should check whether the concerned college have affiliation with DGCA or not. The candidates who want to seek admission in these institutions should check the past record of accomplishment of the institution. These precautions will go in a long way in the favour the aspirants.

Here is how can you ensure a thriving career in aircraft maintenance engineering

Aviation Industry in India is expanding at a rapid pace. Global business and tourism have become very popular as more and more people are flying to different destinations within the country. Passenger aircraft of different sizes are operating along the various routes. Due to long flying hours, they are prone to break down and require regular maintenance.

Companies into aviation business in India are hiring a large number of technicians to ensure that the aircraft are in proper shape. Unless they get proper certification to fly, the planes cannot take off from the airport. An expert technician will diagnose the problems and perform repair work before the aircraft becomes fly worthy. A career in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is lucrative because technicians not only learn new technologies but also gain experience to handle diverse roles in the aviation sector. If you are looking to make a mark as an engineer, learn the mechanics of the aircraft innovative technology. It is only possible when you enroll into one of the Top AME colleges in India because they not only provide knowledge but also hands-on experience.

How can you get admission?

A student should score more than 50% marks at 10+2 level in physics, chemistry, and mathematics stream. Moreover, the student should be willing to learn and acquire skills to become an effective engineer. You should clear Section A and B exam to become a certified engineer.

Director General of Civil aviation authority conducts the tests and awards license to the students to become certified professionals in the aviation sector. If the student obtains admission in Top AME colleges in India, he can comfortably clear the required exams to become complete professional.

Some institutes make tall claims about the infrastructure facilities in the premises but they fail to meet the requirements of the students. You should conduct extensive research before applying for admission. A reputed institution will provide quality education at affordable price.

Students need to visit the campus and check the facilities for hand on training on the aircraft. Bookish knowledge is not sufficient to hone the skills; therefore, practical training is extremely necessary for the students.

Course content:

The whole course consists of two papers namely A and B as mentioned above. If you are able to clear the paper A quickly, you become basic aircraft maintenance engineer. A student will learn how to handle complex radio instruments, compass systems, and gyroscopic instruments. Moreover, experienced instructors work in reputed institutes and they provide in-depth knowledge about the engine and maintenance of the aircraft. Carving out a successful career in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is like a dream come true for the aspirants, if they pursue the objective with dedication.

Aircraft maintenance engineers – Exhibiting constant pace of growth

Internationally, the industry of aircraft maintenance is huge, and is all ready to expand in India as well. Arguably, India is among the fastest developing nations of the globe. Owing to the liberalization policies of Government, there is massive expansion in civil aviation here. Various private airlines such as Air India, Jet Airways, Air Deccan, and Indian Airlines are operating with extremely good operating revenues. 

In order to cater to the growing requirements of passenger airlines, private airbus operators, cargo aircrafts, and corporate jets, there is an urgent requirement of aircraft maintenance engineers in these airlines. Here is a detailed info on this topic.

Requirement of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers

The aviation industry in India is expanding at a faster pace than ever with new and innovative aircrafts coming up with more and more air routes. Feeder lines are turning out to be viable and new operators are launching their airlines frequently. Besides huge network of domestic airlines, numerous international airlines are also operating via India at present. At the time of training session, these airlines provide apt service and maintenance lessons to the candidates to ensure flight safety. 

To be a part of this massively increasing industry as an aircraft maintenance engineer. All you need is to pursue a three-year AME training course from any of the various DGCA (General of Civil Aviation) accredited institutes. This will help you effectively in making a career in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, if you come out as a good student throughout.

The candidates after their Plus Two Exams and 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics can apply for this course. They are eligible for admission in almost any AME Training Institute in India, and there is no sex discrimination during admission either. Since this training course is quite rigorous, only some institutes provide training about heavy aircraft and jet engines. Furthermore, to be an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, you have to acquire a license from DGCA. Thus, the AME certification is actually not a degree, rather a specific licensing program for maintenance of aircraft.

Responsibilities of Aircraft Engineers

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers are accountable for maintenance, control, and repairing of particular aircraft instrumentation as well as its associated parts. Besides, they also get training as how to set up engine controls and investigate for the accurate functioning. The maintenance of contemporary aircrafts needs extremely high degree of mechanical knowledge, proficiency, capability, and veracity on part of fretful personnel. Usually, aircraft engineers are responsible to design, research, maintain, and manufacture aircrafts. They also work on every minute mechanical detailing aspect of aircraft, incorporating airframes, pneumatics, fuel and engine systems, and communication systems.

Remuneration of Aircraft Engineers

Carving out a career in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is quite impressive in terms of monetary prospects. In most of the airlines, the aircraft engineers get a gross salary of approximately 25,000 to 40,000 per month, which may go up to 1.20 lakhs or more, with experience.

Top Jobs in Aviation in India

The aviation industry in India is expanding at a faster than ever before with traffic rising by more than 17% last year. The sector has the ability to yield a wide array of design, production, maintenance and management jobs. Owing to its great job generating potential, many people are showing interest in building career in aviation. Among the various top aviation jobs in India, a career in aircraft maintenance engineering can be highly lucrative.

In order to lend a boost to this career option, several colleges are offering aircraft maintenance engineering courses. Apart from AME courses, there are other courses that can also help you get into the aviation sector. If you wish to extract the benefits of working in the aviation sector, you can consider pursuing these courses. 

Aircraft Maintenance Jobs: A Few Facts to Know

The Indian aviation industry is expected to see an exponential growth in the next 10 years with multinational companies and several Indian agencies establishing Greenfield operations and enhancing their existing potentials. Huge investments are being made in the domains of aircraft manufacturing and engineering services creating ample job opportunities for the   Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.  The field has got excellent job scope though, to some extent, it depends on from which institute you have pursued the course. 

It is important to pursue the course from a well-acclaimed college as the reputed institutions have collaboration with top-notch aviation companies and thus, are able to offer good placements to their students.

Job Responsibilities of an Airplane Maintenance Professional in Detail

Wondering about what the job of an aircraft maintenance technician involves? The prime responsibility of the technician is to inspect and repair the airframe and aircraft engines. He is supposed to have the training and expertise needed for servicing electrical and hydraulic parts including fuel pumps, starters and generators. In order to acquire the skill, he should have pursued a course from an aircraft maintenance engineering college.

Aircraft maintenance professionals need to adjust pneumatic units and aircraft engines and diagnose the issues with them. They also need to install and uninstall aircraft components as and when needed. Other responsibilities of these engineers include repairing pilot static units and conducting regular preventive examinations before an airplane takes off. Unless the aircraft maintenance technicians approve and ensure a safe flight, an aircraft cannot take off. They inspect aircraft fuselage as well as landing gear for leakage. After inspection, they suggest the replacement of defective airplane parts so that it fulfils quality standards. 

Those who have chosen career in aircraft maintenance engineering usually need to work in airfields, aircraft repair stations and hangers.  They may be required to put on protective clothing to endure extreme temperatures and save themselves from harmful chemicals, huge power tools and loud noises.

Other Aviation Jobs

Other aviation jobs include aeronautical engineers, pilots and cabin crews. You need to pursue appropriate courses from well-known institutes to get into these jobs. Whether you choose a career in AME or dream to become a successful aeronautical engineer, you can be assured of a handsome salary. The salary usually increases with experience.

Career in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering: Is it Worth the Buck Spent?

Since the number of planes is increasing exponentially, the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering consultants are also in demand to carry out the upkeep of the machines. They are skilled and understand the avionics as well as mechanical functioning of the aircraft to rectify the possible problems arising out of continuous flying. Due to the open sky policy of the government, many routes have become viable for the airlines. People are hopping on to the plane because the air travel has become cheap and the facilities during the journey are world class.

Who can apply?

In a true sense, the course spans across 3 years and does not in anyway resemble to the conventional engineering syllabus imparted by the college across the country. It is a licensed training course offered by the DGCA to the students. They need to appear for the exam to be certified by the organization. People who have completed 10+2 with science stream are eligible to apply for a Career in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.  Even students with diploma can also join the course to provide valuable contribution in the aviation sector.

As far as the training sessions are concerned, they are quite rigorous with opportunities to work with different types of aircraft engines. Practical experience is extremely necessary to become a top-notch aircraft engineer. With the help of the taught concepts, you can resolve the real time problem related to the mechanical or avionics section of the aircraft.

The multifarious opportunities

People get many opportunities to do Aircraft Maintenance Engineering because of the presence of large number of domestic and international airlines in India. You can get valuable experience initially and then move on other companies located across different countries. As a trainee, students will get amazing options to work on top of the line aircraft from Airbus and Boeing.

Generally, entry-level engineers do not need any certification however for advanced leadership positions you need to get license from the directorate of civil aviation. Total cost of the course is approximately 2 Lac Rupees. However, the benefits are manifold for the students because they can work in top corporations of the world at lucrative pay packages. 

Be very careful while selecting the institute for advanced course because there are many educational colleges that claim to provide the best training however some of them are not even recognized by DCA. You might end up paying money for the course, which is not valid and certified; therefore check the credentials of the institute before proceeding ahead with the selection.

In short, the aviation sector is growing at a very fast rate with each airline buying scores of aircrafts to expand operations on national and international routes. Considering this boom, rigorous training, with hands one experience in some of the top aviation machines of the world will provide you excellent exposure. It will go a long way in building successful career with tremendous job satisfaction. Analytical and problem solving skills further ensure that you can manage even the complex technical issues related to aircraft.