Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Course Streams:-

Categories of AME License under CAR 66

  • Mechanical (A & B1)
    • Aeroplane & Power Plant (A1, A2, B1.1 & B1.2)
    • Helicopter & Power Plant (A3, A4, B1.3 & B1.4)
  • Avionics (B2)
  • Piston Engine Maximum Take Off Mass 2000kg (B3)


The Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence is issued in the following categories:-
  • Category A
  • Category B1
  • Category B2                           
  • Category B3                     
  • Category C
 Category A :-
The Category A licence is a mechanical based licence and permits the holder to issue certificates of release to service after minor scheduled line maintenance and simple defect rectification within the limits of maintenance tasks specifically endorsed on the authorisation issued by a maintenance organisation approved under rule 133B for the broad category of aircraft endorsed on the licence and the certification privileges should be restricted to the work carried out by the licence holder himself in the maintenance organization that issues the authorisation.
The A licence is sub-divided into sub-categories as below:
  • A1 Aeroplanes Turbine
  • A2 Aeroplanes Piston
  • A3 Helicopters Turbine
  • A4 Helicopters Piston

 Note: Category A license is not a Type rated AME license

Category B1:-
Category B1 licence is a mechanical based licence and permits the holder to issue certificates for release to service and act as support staff following the maintenance performed on aircraft structure, power plant, mechanical and electrical systems, work on avionics system requiring simple tests to prove their serviceability and not requiring trouble shooting, in respect of an aircraft type endorsed on the licence
The B1 licence is sub-divided into sub-categories as below:
  • B1.1 Aeroplanes Turbine-Engines
  • B1.2 Aeroplanes Piston-Engines
  • B1.3 Helicopters Turbine-Engines
  • B1.4 Helicopters Piston-Engines
Note: Category B1 includes the appropriate sub-category of Category A.
Category B2:-
The B2 licence is avionic based and permits the holder to issue :-
(a) certificates of release to service after maintenance on avionic and electrical systems, avionics and electrical system within engine and mechanical systems requiring only simple tests to prove their serviceability of aircraft type endorsed on the licence.
(b) certificates of release to service after minor scheduled line maintenance and simple defect rectification within the limits of tasks specifically endorsed on the certification authorisation issued by an approved maintenance organisation of aircraft type endorsed on the licence and this certification privilege shall be restricted to work that the licence holder has personally performed in the maintenance organisation which issued the certification authorisation and limited to the rating already endorsed on the licence.
The B2 licence broadly covers the following areas:
  • Instrument Systems
  • Automatic Pilot Systems (fixed and rotary wing), including Auto-throttle and Auto-land Systems
  • Radio Communication, Navigation and Radar Systems
  • Electrical Power Generation and Distribution to Avionic Systems
Category B3:-
Category B3 is applicable to piston-engine non-pressurised aeroplanes of 2000 kg Maximum Take-off Mass (MTOM) and below.
Category B3 licence permits the holders to issue certificates of release to service after maintenance on aeroplane structure, engine and mechanical and electrical systems, work on avionic systems requiring only simple tests to prove their serviceability and not requiring troubleshooting of ‘piston-engine non-pressurised aeroplanes of 2000 kg Maximum Take-off Mass and below’.
Note―Simple test means a test described in approved maintenance data and such in nature that aircraft system serviceability is verified through aircraft controls, switches, Builtin Test Equipment (BITE), Central Maintenance Computer (CMC) or external test equipment not requiring special training.
Category C:-
The Category C licence permits the release of an aircraft to service in its entirety (including all systems) by a single certificate of release to service by one overall signatory, once all base maintenance work and checks have been completed. The principal function of the category C certifying staff is to ensure that all required maintenance has been called up and signed off by the category B1, B2 and B3 support staff, as appropriate, before issue of the certificate of release to service. Only category C personnel who also hold category B1, B2 or B3 qualifications may perform both roles in base maintenance.