61. [ Licensing of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers [Substituted by Notification No. G.S.R. 1001 (E) dated 22.12.2010 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).]
(1)The Central Government may grant [licences or authorizations] 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 Engineer's Licence or an authorisation, [* * *] [Omitted 'approval or certificate of competency' by Notification No. G.S.R. 1001 (E) dated 22.12.2010 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).], 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:(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 nonpressurised 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 Engineer's 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 .3 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: [Substituted by Notification No. G.S.R. 289(E), dated 08.04.2022 (w.e.f. 23.03.1937).](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(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.] [Substituted for 'sub-rules (3), (4) and (4A)' by Notification No. G.S.R. 289(E), dated 08.04.2022 (w.e.f. 23.03.1937).](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 organization 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 organization 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 organization 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.] [Substituted by Notification No. G.S.R. 1001 (E) dated 22.12.2010 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).]Explanation - For the purposes of this sub-rule,-(i)"large aircraft" means any aeroplane with a maximum mass of more than 5700 kilograms or any multi-engined helicopter; and(ii)"support staff" means those licensed engineers or approval holders who are not authorised to issue certificate of release to service, but perform maintenance in the base maintenance environment.(6)The applicant for grant of extension of Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's 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.] [Substituted by Notification No. G.S.R. 1001 (E) dated 22.12.2010 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).](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.] [Substituted by Notification No. G.S.R. 1001 (E) dated 22.12.2010 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).](8)The Central Government may grant authorisation to the holders of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's Licence to carry out maintenance of any new aircraft, engine or system which has been brought into the organization 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.[* * *] [Omitted '(9) and (10)' by Notification No. G.S.R. 1001 (E) dated 22.12.2010 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).](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] [Substituted for 'five years' by Notification No. G.S.R. 289(E), dated 08.04.2022 (w.e.f. 23.03.1937).] in each case, and may be renewed for another five 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;(b)an authorisation, [* * *] [Omitted 'approval or certificate of competency' by Notification No. G.S.R. 832(E), dated 30.6.2017 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).] 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 Engineer's 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 organization 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] [Substituted for 'Category B3' by Notification No. G.S.R. 289(E), dated 08.04.2022 (w.e.f. 23.03.1937).] 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;(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.] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 289(E), dated 08.04.2022 (w.e.f. 23.03.1937).](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 organization 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 organization which issued the certification authorisation and limited to the rating already endorsed on the licence.(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.] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 289(E), dated 08.04.2022 (w.e.f. 23.03.1937).](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.] [Substituted by Notification No. G.S.R. 1001 (E) dated 22.12.2010 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).](13)[ The certification privileges shall be exercised only if the holder of licence fulfills the conditions as specified by the Director-General.] [Substituted by Notification No. G.S.R. 1001 (E) dated 22.12.2010 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).](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.] [Substituted by Notification No. G.S.R. 289(E), dated 08.04.2022 (w.e.f. 23.03.1937).](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 [* * *] [Omitted 'or approval or certificate of competency' by Notification No. G.S.R. 1001 (E) dated 22.12.2010 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).] 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 organization 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 [* * *] [Omitted 'or approval or certificate of competency' by Notification No. G.S.R. 1001 (E) dated 22.12.2010 (w.e.f. 23.3.1937).] if, for reasons to be recorded in writing, it considers it expedient to do so in public interest.]
