Canadian AME Licensing General Information

The following information outlines the basic requirements that an applicant, including Canadian military personnel, must fulfil in order to obtain a Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Licence, in accordance with Subpart 403 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) and Airworthiness Manual (AWM) Chapter 566, Division I.

AME Licence Ratings

The scope of maintenance release privileges as they pertain to the rating designators entered on the licence, are as follows:

1. M1: Non-turbojet aircraft built to Standard 522, 523, 523-VLA, 527, 549 and equivalent standards (Includes all airframe, engines, propellers, components, structures, and systems of those aircraft, and the aircraft listed in paragraph 566.03(8)(b) of the AWM;
2. M2: All aircraft not included in M1 (Excluding balloons) (includes all airframes, engines, propellers, components, structures, and systems of those aircraft, and the aircraft listed in paragraph 566.03(8)(b) of the AWM;
3. E: Aircraft electronic systems. (Includes communication, pulse, navigation, auto flight, flight path computation, instruments and the electrical elements of other aircraft systems, and any structural work directly associated with the maintenance of those systems);
4. S: Aircraft structures. (Includes all airframe structures);
5. Balloons.

Requirements Table:

Rating	Age	Minimum Basic Training	Experience	Skill	Exams
M1	21	1000 hours Aircraft Maintenance theory	Total: 48 months Specialty: 12 months Civil: 6 months	Record of Maintenance tasks required	Airframe Powerplant Standard Practices Regulations
M2	21	1000 hours Aircraft Maintenance theory	Total: 48 months Specialty: 12 months Civil: 6 months	Record of Maintenance tasks required	Airframe Powerplant Standard Practices Regulations
E	21	1000 hours Electronics theory	Total: 48 months Specialty: 12 months Civil: 6 months	Record of Maintenance tasks required	Avionics Standard Practices Regulations
S	21	550 hours Aircraft Structures theory	Total: 36 months Specialty: 24 months Civil: 6 months	Record of Maintenance tasks required	Structures Standard Practices Regulations
Balloons	21	Acceptable course in balloon maintenance	120 hours	Record of Maintenance tasks required	Regulations

When an individual applies for a Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) license, an applicant must provide documented proof for the following:

• Citizenship (Canadian or other)
• Age (minimum 21 years of age for the issuance of the licence)
• Training (basic training applicable to the rating sought)
• Knowledge (through examinations)
• Experience (maintenance experience)
• Skill (performance of maintenance tasks)

Application(s):

There are two types of applications depending on where an applicant acquired their basic training:

1. AME Licence Application Supplement Technical Examinations form (26-0638): where an applicant must demonstrate technical knowledge for the rating sought. (e.g. acceptable training or training that requires assessment by Transport Canada)
   • Used to obtain approval to attempt the technical examinations; requires acceptable proof of citizenship, age and basic training.
2. AME Licence Application form (24-0083): where an applicant has successfully completed a basic training course from a Transport Canada (TC) Approved Training Organization (ATO) for which a knowledge credit was granted or has successfully completed the technical examinations:
   • Used to obtain approval to attempt the Regulatory Requirements (CAR) examination; in order to obtain approval, applicant must provide acceptable proof of citizenship, age, basic training, experience and skill.

Requirements for all documents submitted to Transport Canada:

All documentation submitted in support of an AME licence application shall be originals or certified true copies of the originals and where necessary, translated into English or French. Translated documents must be accompanied by the original documents with any official stamps and seals identified.

The following individuals may certify copies:

• A notary public or commission for oaths;
• A Transport Canada Civil Aviation Safety Inspector/Officer or Administrative (Operational) Support personnel; or
• The holder of a valid Canadian AME Licence.

Citizenship:

You must provide proof of citizenship. (e.g. valid passport or valid aviation personnel license showing citizenship of the holder issued by the state of which he/she is a citizen).

Age:

Prior to licence issue, an applicant shall have attained the age of 21 years. As proof of age, the following documents are acceptable:

• Canadian citizenship certificates;
• Birth or baptismal certificates;
• Passport; or
• Any (Canadian) Federal or Provincial document showing the applicant’s birth date.

Training:

An applicant shall successfully complete basic training applicable to the rating requested. An applicant must have completed a Transport Canada approved or acceptable basic training course in aircraft maintenance, avionics or structural repair (as applicable). As proof of basic training, the applicant must submit:

1. A graduation certificate from a Transport Canada approved basic training course bearing the approval number; or
2. A graduation certificate from a Transport Canada accepted basic training course.

For a list of approved or acceptable courses please refer to the following link:

https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/licensing-aircraft-maintenance-engineers-ame/approved-training-organizations-atos-aircraft-maintenance-training/basic-training-approved-acceptable-training-organizations-currently-active

The basic training for balloon applicants consists of an acceptable course in balloon maintenance.

Applicants who did not complete their basic training from an approved or acceptable source may be exempt from the basic training requirement. To be eligible for these exemptions applicants must provide proof of having held the licence in question:

• Aircraft Maintenance: (M1 or M2 rating) (issued prior to January 01, 1990)
  • United States - FAA A&P licence with an Inspection Authorization rating;
  • ICAO (Annex 1), rated for airframe & engines
• Avionics Maintenance: (E rating) (issued prior to September 01, 1985)
  • ICAO (Annex 1), that included avionics privileges
• Structures Maintenance: (S rating) (issued prior to September 01, 2001)
  • ICAO (Annex 1), that included structures privileges

All other maintenance licenses are not eligible for exemption and applicants are required to provide proof of basic training in accordance with subsection 566.07(2) of the AWM:

• A course graduation certificate or diploma, a transcript of marks and hours of each subject and a detailed course curriculum from the training facility (this includes foreign basic training courses that will be required to be assessed on a case by case basis).

Applicants living outside of Canada who took a foreign basic training course will be required to provide documentation as noted above establishing how they meet the basic training requirements of AWM Chapter 566.

Certain types of Canadian Military training may qualify for full or partial exemption from the basic training requirement, subject to an evaluation of the training received. For further information please refer to the following document available on the Transport Canada Civil Aviation website:

• Maintenance and Manufacturing Staff Instructions No. 18 (Appendix B)

AME applicants with Canadian military training are required to provide:

An original or certified true copy of their graduation certificate, Unit Employment Record (UER) or Military Personal Record Resume (MPRR) which clearly identifies that they have successfully completed;

1. A TQ/QL3 training in their specific trade; or
2. A TQ/QL5 apprenticeship program.

Knowledge:

Applicants are required to possess technical and regulatory knowledge of aircraft maintenance.

Technical knowledge is proven by the successful completion of the applicable technical knowledge examinations. Credit for the technical examinations may be granted for applicants who have successfully completed TC approved basic training from an applicable Approved Training Organization (ATO).

Regulatory knowledge is proven by the successful completion of the Regulatory Requirements (CAR) examination.

Experience:

As proof of experience, the applicant shall submit a personal logbook or equivalent document signed by the person(s) responsible for the maintenance release of the work items recorded (e.g. identifying exact dates, types of work performed and types of aircraft worked on).

When submitting the AME licence application form, all but six months of the required total experience must have been obtained.

Experience is deemed to be a maximum of 1800 hours per year (at 150 hours per month).

Ultra-light, advanced ultra-light, amateur built, or owner maintained aircraft experience is not acceptable for AME licensing purposes.

AME applicants with Canadian military experience are required to submit an original or certified true copy of their:

1. Unit employment Record (UER);
2. Military Personal Record Resume (MPRR); or
3. Letter of employment from their Unit/Squadron signed by their supervisor.

Maintenance performed on Canadian military aircraft or parts intended for installation on Canadian military aircraft may be counted toward the total and specialty experience requirements, therefore experience gained in the military must be representative of the aircraft, systems or structures applicable to the AME rating sought. AME applicants with Canadian military experience are required to obtain six months experience on civil registered aircraft. Experience accumulated for actual “hands-on” aircraft maintenance work would commence after completion of the initial basic training period (e.g. successful completion of a TQ/QL level 3).

Skill (Maintenance Tasks):

Applicant must provide documented proof of completing a representative selection of eligible maintenance tasks, over the full range of applicable systems and structures. Each task claimed shall have been subject to a maintenance release. This may be accomplished by:

1. Submission of an appropriately completed personal logbook; or
2. Submission of an appropriately completed List of maintenance tasks per Appendix B of AWM Chapter 566.

Applicants shall have performed not less than 70 percent of the items listed in Appendix B of AWM 566 that are applicable to the rating sought and to the aircraft, systems or components for which the experience is claimed. Each task shall take the form of a certification statement by the AME, or equivalent person who supervised the work, which includes the date, aircraft type, registration mark, or component serial number as applicable, and confirm that the applicant is able to:

1. identify the applicable standard for the task;
2. select the proper tools;
3. perform the work correctly without supervision; and
4. complete the necessary documentation.

Persons who sign for completion of maintenance tasks shall be responsible for the accuracy of statements made.

AME Applicants claiming maintenance tasks performed on Canadian military aircraft may be found acceptable, provided these tasks were performed on an aircraft (or variant of the type) for which a civilian type certificate has been issued. Such tasks are required to be certified by an AME or an equivalent person who supervised the work, such as a Level-A maintenance releaser, as a minimum, in the military. No less than 10 % of the required maintenance tasks must have been completed on civil registered aircraft.

Examinations:

Technical and regulatory examinations must be successfully completed within 12 months after the date on which Transport Canada approved the application. The passing grade for each examination is 70 %. The technical examinations may be attempted once the 26-0638 application has been approved by Transport Canada. The regulatory examination may be attempted once the 24-0083 application has been approved and the applicant has completed all but six months of the required total experience.

An AME licence applicant who fails an examination on the first attempt shall not be re-examined sooner than 30 days following the failed attempt. An AME licence applicant who fails a second or subsequent attempt shall not be re-examined sooner than six months following each failed attempt

All examinations are invigilated at a Transport Canada Centre (TCC) and you may contact the TCC of your choice to schedule your examination(s) date(s).

Charges:

For the charges associated with AME licensing, please refer to schedule IV of CAR 104. For fee payments, please contact toll free at 1-800-305-2059.

For further information, please contact the Civil Aviation Communications Centre.

For further information refer to the AME Licensing & Training website.