Job Duties and Lifestyle of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME)
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs), or mechanics, are responsible for getting airplanes and helicopters ready to fly. They ensure this by checking and maintaining all systems on board so that the systems do not fail. As an aircraft is an engineering feat with millions of parts, it needs very demanding maintenance and constant inspection so that even 1% defect or error does not creep in. Therefore, aircraft maintenance engineers are needed to provide maintenance and repair of aircraft parts and systems including onboard avionics, electrical and mechanical systems. Institute of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering offers the best AME course.
What is the job of an aircraft maintenance engineer?
Thus, the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) ensures that all mechanical engineering work is done before the aircraft flies. They have to troubleshoot problems, perform preventive checks and ensure that they make upgrades so that nothing dangerous happens in flight. Also, as a skilled tradesman/engineer level, they must ensure that damaged parts or systems are repaired.
In the event that maintenance or service assistance is required – the AME must extend their professional expertise – even if this involves rebuilding the aircraft. The day-to-day duties of an AME include inspecting and preventing any accidents, ensuring the smooth running of aircraft and engines and carrying out repairs in addition to routine maintenance and servicing in the hangars. Strict rules and procedures are established for each maintenance procedure to be followed.
These engineers also supervise the work of numerous mechanics below them. To become an AME, look for aviation courses after 10+2 and the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers admission guidelines.
Maintenance usually involves two types of duties:
Line duties include pre-flight checks to ensure that nothing untoward happens during a flight. This is usually done before each flight. In addition, responsibilities include optimal fueling. Certain checks such as minor avionics, electrical and mechanical tasks must also be performed. They seem unimportant and are critical and must be carried out meticulously and diligently, without which the aircraft may suffer an accident and endanger hundreds of lives.
Basic maintenance is done in an aircraft hangar. They are more complex because there is time and every system and part is checked and rechecked. It usually involves long and demanding, rigorous inspections that are accompanied by fault diagnostics to find any faults that can prove costly. In the event of such a finding, repairs are undertaken in a timely manner.
The mechanical section usually inspects, maintains and repairs the fuselage, engines, landing gear and airframe without turning off the electricity. The avionics branch focuses on the electrical and electronic systems directly related to navigation, communications, and flight control and is usually controlled by a computer. It is worth repeating that this is a big responsibility – every job must be done with zero error and zero defect, without which an entire plane with hundreds on board will crash.
The average salary for an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) hovers around 8 lakh per annum. More profitable offers, including consulting or self-employment, begin to appear after about 20 years of employment. An AME starts at around 15,000 per month but can quickly go up to even Rs 1-1.5 lakh due to the shortage of such staff. At this level, an AME can enjoy a luxurious, if not lavish, lifestyle. To achieve this lifestyle, look for Aeronautical Engineering Courses, Aeronautical Engineering and Aviation Courses after 10+2.
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