AME CET (Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Common Entrance Test) is the national entrance examination for admission to DGCA-approved AME training institutes across India. The 3-year AME programme prepares students for the AME License (Cat. B1.1 Mechanical / B2 Avionics) issued by DGCA - a mandatory qualification to maintain aircraft. Approximately 20,000-25,000 candidates appear annually for around 3,000 seats across 30+ DGCA-approved institutes. AME License holders work as licensed engineers for airlines (IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India, Vistara), MROs, and aircraft manufacturers globally.
Exam Pattern
Mode:Online CBT
Duration:180 minutes
Total Marks:150
Marking Scheme:+1 for correct, no negative marking
Sections
Physics
30 Questions•30 Marks
Chemistry
30 Questions•30 Marks
Mathematics
30 Questions•30 Marks
English Language
30 Questions•30 Marks
General Aptitude & Reasoning
30 Questions•30 Marks
Syllabus
Physics
NCERT Class 11-12 - mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, modern physics
Chemistry
NCERT Class 11-12 - physical, organic, inorganic chemistry
Mathematics
NCERT Class 11-12 - algebra, calculus, trigonometry, coordinate geometry
Top institutes (IIA, Hindustan Aviation, etc.) have additional cutoffs
💡 Preparation Tips
Strong Class 12 PCM is the foundation - NCERT covers most of the syllabus
No negative marking - attempt all 150 questions
English and Aptitude are scoring sections - don't ignore them
After CET, choose only DGCA-approved CAR-66 institutes (verify on dgca.gov.in)
AME License exam (separate from AME CET) requires passing 17 modules during the 3-year programme
❓ FAQs
Is AME a degree or a license?
AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineering) is a LICENSE issued by DGCA, not a degree. It's a 3-year programme leading to the B1.1/B2 License after passing 17 modules + practical experience. Some institutes also offer a BSc/BBA alongside as a degree.
What's the salary of a licensed AME?
Starting Rs. 30,000-60,000/month at airlines/MROs in India. Licensed AMEs with 5+ years experience earn Rs. 1-2 lakh/month at major airlines, with international postings offering significantly higher pay (USD 60,000-100,000 globally).
AME vs Pilot career - which is better?
Pilots earn more (Rs. 1.5-4 lakh/month starting, Rs. 8-25 lakh/month senior captain) but pilot training is expensive (Rs. 40-80 lakh CPL training) and competitive. AME training is cheaper (Rs. 8-15 lakh), more accessible, with stable demand. Both are aviation careers - choose based on aptitude and resources.