AME Licensing Procedures Manual

1. Overview of AME Licensing

1.1 Introduction
Approved by Group General Manager, Personnel Licensing, Education and Training Group
1.

Version 7.7: June 2012

Overview of AME Licensing

1.1

Introduction

1.1.1

Type of Aircraft Maintenance Authorisations Covered in this Manual

This manual covers the procedures for:

Issuing, changing and renewing Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) licences

Issuing changing and renewing Airworthiness Authorities.

1.1.2

Target Audience
The target audience of this Manual includes the following people involved with licensing
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers:

Administrative Service Officers (ASO)

Airworthiness Officers, who can be Airworthiness Inspectors (AWI) or Airworthiness
Engineers

Examination Administration Officers

Examination Supervisors

1.1.3

What Is AME Licensing?

The AMEs discussed in this manual are those persons who maintain and service aircraft,
and their engines and systems:

CAR (1988)
Schedule 7

In approved maintenance organisations located in Australia

In approved maintenance organisations operated by Australian or overseas
companies that are located overseas, but which want to apply for or retain Australian
AME licences in their own right
In other than the approved maintenance organisations, whose work is limited to Class
B aircraft and the restrictions of Schedule 7 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs).

AMEs perform maintenance under the supervision of a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance

Engineer (LAME). Only LAMEs may certify for the completion and coordination of
maintenance on aircraft and their engines or systems.

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AME Licensing Procedures Manual

1. Overview of AME Licensing
1.1 Introduction
Approved by Group General Manager, Personnel Licensing, Education and Training Group

Version 7.7: June 2012

AME licensing is one of the means that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) uses to
maintain the safety of air travel and airspace, both for the aviation industry and the general
public. The licensing system ensures that all maintenance of aircraft, engines and
systems is:

Carried out by people who are properly trained and proficient

Supervised and certified by people who are properly trained and proficient.

CASA does this by:

Specifying that maintenance on aircraft may only be certified by an appropriately

qualified LAME
Controlling the qualifications AMEs must have before they are licensed to certify
maintenance
Controlling who may train and test the proficiency of AMEs to ensure that they meet
the required standards.

AME licences are divided into five classes, referred to as Categories:

Airframes

Engines

Electrical

Instruments

Radio.

The licence issued for a Category is endorsed to reflect the specific type or group of
aircraft, engine or system for which the holder is qualified to certify maintenance. This
endorsement is referred to as a Rating.

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AME Licensing Procedures Manual

1. Overview of AME Licensing
1.1 Introduction
Approved by Group General Manager, Personnel Licensing, Education and Training Group

1.1.4

Version 7.7: June 2012

What Are Airworthiness Authorities?

The process for issuing Airworthiness Authorities is separate from the process for issuing
AME licences. Airworthiness Authorities are governed by different CARs and Civil Aviation
Orders (CAOs) to AME licensing.
Airworthiness Authorities are divided into five classes as follows.

Aircraft Welding Authority

The holder of an Aircraft Welding Authority (AWA) may carry out manual welding of a type
and on a parent metal as indicated on the AWA.
Aircraft Weight Control Authority
The holder of an Aircraft Weight Control Authority (WCA) may weigh aircraft and
determine the centre of gravity of each aircraft for the purpose of determining requirements
to control the centre of gravity during operation.
Non-Destructive Testing Authority
The holder of a Non-Destructive Testing Authority (NDT) may carry out and certify for nondestructive testing of aircraft and aircraft components using NDT testing methods.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Examiner Authority
The holder of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Examiner Authority (AE) may hold or work
for a holder of a Certificate of Approval (CofA) endorsed for training LAMEs on specific
types of aircraft, engines and systems.
Maintenance Authority
Maintenance Authorities (MAs) are authorisations issued by CASA to enable certain
specified types of maintenance to be carried out for specified periods, and sometimes in
specific locations, by people who may or may not be LAMEs.
In certain circumstancesfor example, when there is a requirement in a remote location to
replace an engine RPM indicatorit is not always possible to have an appropriately
qualified LAME on hand to perform and certify maintenance. In such circumstances, an
Airworthiness Authority is issued to an airframe LAME to perform and certify the
maintenance.

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AME Licensing Procedures Manual

1. Overview of AME Licensing
1.1 Introduction
Approved by Group General Manager, Personnel Licensing, Education and Training Group

1.1.5

Version 7.7: June 2012

Maintenance Personnel Licensing Structure and Responsibilities

Maintenance Personnel Licensing develops and administers standards applicable to air
transport and general aviation and aerial work, including sport and recreational aviation,
the authorisations of maintenance personnel, maintenance training organisations and
national training standards. It sets maintenance personnel theory examinations and
approval of aircraft type specific courses. It is responsible for the major defect reporting
system and is also responsible for all civil aircraft registration matters. It prepares
associated guidance material and issues advice in relation to the above matters.
Different aspects of Maintenance Personnel Licensing functions are carried out within the:

General Aviation Operations Group

Air Transport Operations Group

Maintenance Personnel Licensing (MPL)

CASA Licensing and Registration Centre

Central Office AME Licensing Staff

Position

Responsibility

Head, MPL

Overall control of MPL

Approve Special examinations

Approve Examination Centres.

Examination Supervisor

Act as a focal point and coordinating independent

conducting officer activities
Maintain examination details within AIRS
Control the distribution and return of examination papers,
and results advices
Assess Examination Centres and independent Conducting
Officers
Carry out surveillance of Examination Centres.

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AME Licensing Procedures Manual

1. Overview of AME Licensing
1.1 Introduction
Approved by Group General Manager, Personnel Licensing, Education and Training Group

Position
Examination
Administration Officer

Version 7.7: June 2012

Responsibility

Maintain candidate details within AIRS

Arrange the printing of examination papers

Dispatch examination papers to Examination Centres

Handle the return of examination papers from Examination

Centres
Arrange the marking of multi-choice examination questions
via the optical mark reader
Dispatch examination notification advices and results
advices.

Airworthiness Inspectors Depending on the delegation:

(AWIs)

Compile and marking examination papers

Assess applications for Examiner Authorities

Approve Specific Type training courses

Carry out audits of approved training organisations

Classify aircraft for licence rating purposes

Administrative Services
Officer (ASO)

Assess applications for AME licences from overseas and

Australian Defence Force (ADF) AMEs

Conduct oral examinations after practical consolidation

training.
Provide general administrative assistance, including:

Register applications

Process fees

Update files.
Provide assistance and advice on AME licensing requested
by Area and Centralised Licensing and Aircraft Registration
Centre Office staff.

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AME Licensing Procedures Manual

1. Overview of AME Licensing
1.1 Introduction
Approved by Group General Manager, Personnel Licensing, Education and Training Group

Version 7.7: June 2012

Field Office AME Licensing Staff

The process of issuing and renewing AME licences and Airworthiness Authorities, with the
exception of Examiner Authorities, is delegated to the Field Offices.

CAR 214

Position

Responsibility

Airworthiness Inspectors
(AWIs)

Depending on the delegation:

Administrative Services
Officers
(ASOs)

assessing applications (including renewals) for AME

licences and ratings
assessing applications (including renewals) for
Airworthiness Authorities (except Examiner Authorities)
Carry out surveillance of Examination Centres, at the
request of Maintenance Personnel Licensing Section
Conduct Special examinations and practical tests, if
required.

Providing general administrative assistance, including:

Receipting monies
Copying application forms (initial and completed)
before on forwarding to CLARC
Folioing applications and associated documents onto
AME files.
Transferring finalised licence/authority to applicant via
post or directly at interview

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