Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Inspect, maintain, and certify aircraft for flight — one of the most rigorously regulated and safety-critical engineering trades, working on commercial and general aviation.
Canonical page: /careers/aircraft-maintenance-engineerHigh
Moderate
4–5 years via airline/MRO apprenticeship including supervised experience and Part-66 module examinations
What you do
Aircraft maintenance engineers (also called licensed aircraft engineers) carry out scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on aircraft to ensure they are safe and airworthy. The work covers line maintenance (pre-flight checks, defect rectification between flights at airports), base maintenance (heavy checks involving structural inspections, system overhauls, and component replacement in hangars), and component workshop maintenance. You work towards a UK CAA Part-66 licence, which authorises you to certify aircraft as fit to fly — a legal responsibility that carries personal accountability. Licence categories cover mechanical (Category B1) and avionics (Category B2) disciplines. Employers include airlines, MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) organisations, cargo operators, and general aviation companies. Progression leads to base maintenance manager, quality auditor, or continuing airworthiness management roles.
Why this career is resilient
Aviation maintenance is one of the most heavily regulated trades in the world. Every aircraft must be maintained to strict schedules defined by the manufacturer and approved by the CAA — there is no option to defer or skip maintenance. The Part-66 licence takes years to obtain and carries personal legal liability, creating a high barrier to entry that protects qualified engineers. Global air traffic continues to grow, and the UK has a significant MRO sector serving both domestic and international airlines. Aircraft systems are too safety-critical and too varied for AI or automation to replace the judgement of a licensed engineer who must physically inspect, test, and certify each aircraft.
Routes in
Apprenticeship
Earn while you learn: work with an employer and study part-time, leading to a nationally recognised qualification. Typically funded by the government and your employer.
Duration: 1–4 years depending on tradeEmployer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
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