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61. Licensing of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (1) The Central Government may grant licences or authorisations as
provided in this rule, to persons who meet the requirements specified in this rule.

(2) The application for the grant of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence or an authorisation, or for extension
thereof, shall be made in the form and manner specified by the Director-General.

(3) The Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s licence may be granted in the following categories and sub-categories, as
applicable, namely: —

(a) Category A, classified into the following sub-categories: —

(i) A1 Aeroplanes Turbine;

(ii) A2 Aeroplanes Piston;

(iii) A3 Helicopters Turbine;

(iv) A4 Helicopters Piston.

(b) Category B1, classified into the following sub-categories:--

(i) B1.1 Aeroplanes Turbine;

(ii) B1.2 Aeroplanes Piston;

(iii) B1.3 Helicopters Turbine;

(iv) B1.4 Helicopters Piston.

(c) Category B2, applicable to all aircraft.

(d) Category B2L, applicable to all aircraft shall be issued with the ‘system rating’ as specified by the Director General.

(e) Category B3, applicable to piston-engine non-pressurised aeroplanes of 2000 kilogram Maximum Take-off Mass
and below.

(f) Category L, classified into the following sub-categories: —

(i) L1C: Composite sailplanes;

(ii) L1: sailplanes;

(iii) L2C: composite powered sailplanes and composite Light Aircraft 1 aeroplanes;

(iv) L2: powered sailplanes and Light Aircraft 1 aeroplanes;

(v) L3H: hot-air balloons;

(vi) L3G: gas balloons;

(vii) L4H: hot-air airships;

(viii) L4G: Light Aircraft 2 gas airships; and

(ix) L5: gas airships other than Light Aircraft 2.

Note: Light Aircraft 1 and Light Aircraft 2 means a manned aircraft as specified by the Director-General.

(g) Category C, applicable to aeroplanes and helicopters.

(4) The holder of an aircraft maintenance licence shall have his licence endorsed with the relevant rating for exercising
the certification privileges as laid down in sub-rule (12) of this rule:

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(i) For Category B1, B2, B2L, C and L, the relevant aircraft or system ratings shall be as specified by the Director-
General.

(ii) For Category B3, the relevant rating shall be ‘piston-engine non-pressurised aeroplanes of 2000 kilogram
Maximum Take-off Mass and below’.

(iii) For Category A, no rating shall be endorsed.

(5) An applicant for the grant of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence shall satisfy the following requirements,
namely:-

(a) he shall not be less than 18 years of age;

(b) he shall have passed 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from a recognised Board
or University or its equivalent;

(c) he shall have passed a written examination as specified by the Director-General:

Provided that the Director-General may, subject to such conditions as he may deem fit to impose, exempt any
applicant from the written examination if the applicant holds a licence granted by a Contracting State to act in the
capacity of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer; and

(d) he shall have the following minimum practical experience, namely:-

(i) for Category A, Sub-categories B1.2, B1.4 and Category B3:

(A) three years of practical aircraft maintenance experience on operating aircraft; or

(B) two years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft, covering the
corresponding system rating, and having acquired a Degree in Aircraft Maintenance or Degree
in Engineering from a recognised University; or
(C) one year of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft, covering the
corresponding system rating, and having successfully completed basic aircraft maintenance
training conducted by a training organisation approved under rule 133B.
(ii) for Sub-categories B1.1 and B1.3 and Category B2:
(A) five years of practical aircraft maintenance experience on operating aircraft; or
(B) three years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft, covering the
corresponding system rating, and having acquired a Degree in Aircraft Maintenance or Degree
in Engineering from a recognised University; or
(C) two year of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft, covering the
corresponding system rating, and having successfully completed basic aircraft maintenance
training conducted by a training organisation approved under rule 133B.
(iia) for Category B2L:
(A) three years of practical maintenance experience in operating aircraft, covering the
corresponding system rating, if the applicant has no previous relevant technical training; or
(B) two years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft, covering the
corresponding system rating, and having acquired a Degree in Aircraft Maintenance or Degree
in Engineering from a recognised University; or
(C) one year of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft, covering the
corresponding system rating, and having successfully completed basic aircraft maintenance
training conducted by a training organisation approved under rule 133B.
(iib) for Category L:
(A) two years of practical experience in operating aircraft covering a representative cross
section of maintenance activities in the corresponding sub-category; or

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3/6/24, 11:36 AM Home | Directorate General of Civil Aviation | Government of India
(B) one years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft, covering the
corresponding system rating, and having acquired a Degree in Aircraft Maintenance or Degree
in Engineering from a recognized University or successfully completed basic aircraft
maintenance training conducted by a training organisation approved under rule 133B:
Provided that for the addition of a category or a sub-category or addition within a
category or a sub-category or a system rating to an existing licence, the practical maintenance
experience relevant to the category, sub-category or new system rating shall be as specified by
the Director General:
Provided also that twelve years of practical aircraft maintenance experience acquired
outside a civil aircraft maintenance environment in the relevant category supplemented by at
least one year of recent experience in civil aircraft maintenance environment, shall be treated
as equivalent to the requirements laid down in (i) to (iib) above.

(iii) for Category C with respect to large aircraft

(A) three years of maintenance experience exercising privileges of Categories B1.1, B1.3 or
B2 on large aircraft or as support staff in a base maintenance in an organisation approved
under rule 133B or a combination thereof; or

(B) five years of maintenance experience exercising the privileges of Categories B1.2 or
B1.4 on large aircraft or as support staff in base maintenance in an organisation approved
under rule 133B, or a combination thereof;

(iv) for Category C with respect to aircraft other than large aircraft three years of maintenance
experience of exercising privileges of category B1 or B2 or support staff in an organisation approved
under rule 133B, or a combination thereof;

(e) he shall demonstrate his skill to exercise the privileges of the licence for which an application has been
made, in the manner specified by the Director-General.

(6) The applicant for grant of extension of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers licence shall be required -

(a) to pass a written examination so as to demonstrate a level of knowledge in the appropriate subject modules as
specified by the Director-General; and

(b) to undergo relevant training, acquire maintenance experience as specified by the Director-General, and demonstrate
skill to exercise the privileges of the licence for which an application has been made, in a manner specified by the
Director-General.

(7) An applicant who fails in any examination shall be permitted to appear again for such examination only after lapse
of such other period as specified by the Director-General.

(8) The Central Government may grant authorisation to the holders of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence to
carry out maintenance of any new aircraft, engine or system which has been brought into the organisation and which is
not within the scope of his licence, and to issue a certificate of release thereof, provided that the Director-General is
satisfied that the applicant has sufficient knowledge, experience and training, and has passed such examinations as
specified by the Director-General.

(9) Omitted

(10) Omitted

(11) Unless suspended, revoked or cancelled,

(a) a licence shall remain valid for the period specified therein, subject to a maximum period of ten years in
each case, and may be renewed for another ten years at a time on receipt of the application for renewal:

Provided that an expired licence shall be renewed only after the applicant has passed such examinations as may
be specified by the Director-General;

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(b) an authorisation shall remain valid for a period specified therein, subject to a maximum period of one year
in each case, and may be renewed for another one year at a time on receipt of application for renewal, provided
the applicant has engaged himself in the performance of the tasks for a period of three months in the preceding
one year.

(12) The holders of various categories of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licenses shall have the following privileges,
namely:-

(i) Category A licence holder to issue certificates for 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 shall be restricted to the work carried out by the licence holder himself in the maintenance
organization that issues the authorisation.

(ii) Category B1 licence 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.

Explanation.

(a) Category B1 shall include the appropriate sub-category of Category A;

(b) Microlight, light sport aircraft, gyroplane, glider, balloon or an airship shall be certified by an aircraft maintenance
engineer holding a licence in Category A or Category B1 or Category B3 or Category L or an authorised person subject
to meeting the requirements as specified by the Director-General.

(iii) Category B2 licence 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.

(iiia) Category B2L licence holder to issue certificates of release to service and to act as B2L support staff for the
maintenance performed on electrical systems; maintenance performed on avionics systems within the limits of the
system ratings specifically endorsed on the licence; and when holding the ‘airframe system’ rating, performance of
electrical and avionics tasks within power plant and mechanical systems, requiring only simple tests to prove their
serviceability.

(iv) Category B3 licence 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

(iva) Category L licence holder to issue certificates of release to service and to act as L support staff for maintenance
performed on aircraft structure, power plant and mechanical and electrical systems; work on radio, Emergency Locator
Transmitters and transponder systems; and work on other avionics systems requiring simple tests to prove their
serviceability.

(v) Category C licence holders to issue certificates of release to service after base maintenance in respect of an aircraft
of the type endorsed on the licence. The privileges apply to the aircraft in its entirety including all systems.

Explanation.?Simple test means a test described in approved maintenance data and such in nature that aircraft system
serviceability is verified through aircraft controls, switches, Built-in Test Equipment (BITE), Central Maintenance
Computer (CMC) or external test equipment not requiring special training.

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(13) The certification privileges shall be exercised only if the holder of licence fulfills the conditions as specified by the
Director-General.

(14) A person holding a valid Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence in the old format may be issued, with or without
limitation and without further examination, an Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence in the appropriate category
under this rule subject to such conditions as may be specified by the Director-General.

(15) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-rule (3) of rule 19 of these rules, the Central Government may, after
such inquiry as it may deem fit and after giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard, revoke, cancel, suspend or
endorse any licence or authorisation granted under this rule or issue a warning or an admonition or debar a person from
acquiring a licence temporarily or permanently, where it is satisfied that ?

(a) the applicant had used unfair or fraudulent means during the qualification process; or

(b) the holder has obtained the certification privileges by adopting fraudulent means; or

(c) the holder has failed to carry out required maintenance resulting from own inspection combined with failure to
report such fact to the organisation or person for whom the maintenance was intended to be carried out; or

(d) the holder has performed work or granted a certificate in respect of work which has not been performed in a careful
and competent manner or was responsible in any manner that compromised airworthiness of the aircraft; or

(e) the holder has signed a certificate in respect of any matter in contravention of this rule; or

(f) the holder has issued a certificate of release to service knowing that the maintenance specified on the certificate of
release to service has not been carried out or without verifying that such maintenance has been carried out; or

(g) the holder has falsified the maintenance records; or

(h) the holder has carried out maintenance or has issued a certificate of release to service while under the influence of
alcohol or any other intoxicating or any psychoactive substance; or

(i) it is undesirable for any other reason that the holder should continue to exercise his privileges granted under this
rule.

(16) The Central Government may withhold the grant or renewal of a licence or authorisation if, for reasons to be
recorded in writing, it considers it expedient to do so in public interest.

[Amended by - (i)GSR No. 1202 dated 23-7-1976,

(ii) GSR No. 218 dated 13-3-1991,

(iii) GSR No. 196(E) dated 1-4-1991,

(iv) GSR No. 1001(E) dated 22.12.2010,

(v) GSR 911(E) dated 16-09-2016,

(vi) GSR No. 832(E) dated 30-06-2017;

(vii) GSR No. 1358 dated 01-11-2017; and

(viii) GSR No. 1066(E) dated 25-10-2018; and

(ix) G.S.R. No. 289 (E) dated 08.04.2022]

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