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Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

Jurutera Penyelenggaraan Pesawat · Kejuruteraan

Starting
RM3,500 - RM5,000
Senior
RM12,000 - RM25,000
Entry
Degree
Short answerAn aircraft maintenance engineer inspects, repairs and certifies aircraft as safe to fly. You sign the Certificate of Release to Service — the document that allows that aircraft to depart.
The most important thing to understand: this career does not run through BEM or an engineering degree. It runs through the CAAM Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML).
Two routes: (1) through a CAAM Part 147 approved training organisation — a 2–3 year basic licence training programme, examination and assessment, then 2 years of practical experience on operating aircraft; or (2) self-study using the CAAM Part-66 syllabus, passing the examinations, and accumulating at least 5 years of hands-on experience with a practical assessment.

What does a Aircraft Maintenance Engineer do?

Keeps aircraft safe to fly — a licensed career with high pay and global demand.

A day in the life

Licensed aircraft engineers (LAEs) keep planes airworthy: scheduled checks, defect fixes, certifying & releasing aircraft.
Work happens in hangars & on the apron, in shifts (planes run 24h).
Your signature = this aircraft is safe. No pressure is more real.

Is this right for you?

A good fit if you: love high-tech hands-on work, follow procedures absolutely, can do shifts, and want real responsibility.
Less suitable if you: are careless with detail or want 9-to-5.

Salary & career ladder

Income range
Trainee / unlicensed technician RM1,800–3,000 · newly licensed B1/B2 holder RM4,000–7,000 · licensed with several type ratings RM7,000–13,000 · senior engineer or overseas roles RM12,000–25,000+.

What actually determines your pay
The licence and type ratings. Not a degree, not years of service — the licence. An AML holder with three type ratings is worth far more than an unlicensed person with the same experience, because only licence holders can sign a release.
That makes this field unusually clear: you know exactly what to do to earn more.

The international market
This is the career's biggest advantage. Aircraft maintenance licences are widely recognised across global aviation, and the shortage of licensed maintenance engineers is a worldwide problem.
The Middle East, Singapore and Australia recruit actively, and pay can be multiples of local salaries.

The reality of the work
Shifts, including nights — because most maintenance happens when aircraft are not flying. Physical work in hangars, sometimes on the tarmac in the heat.
And the pressure of accountability: you sign that the aircraft is safe. The people suited to this work are usually those who take procedure seriously and are never tempted to take a shortcut.

City vs hometown

MRO hubs: Sepang/KLIA, Subang, Senai (Johor), Kota Kinabalu (MASwings).
Overseas doors are wide open — Malaysian LAEs are respected in the Middle East & Singapore.

Study path after SPM / UEC

Aircraft Maintenance diploma/degree + CAAM licenceThe most common and most expensive confusion
Aircraft maintenance engineer ≠ aerospace engineer.
This career does not require an engineering degree and does not run through BEM. It runs through a CAAM Part 66 licence.
Many students enrol in an aerospace engineering degree assuming it leads to aircraft maintenance work. It does not — that degree leads to design and analysis, an entirely different career with a far smaller job market in Malaysia.

The actual route
SPM → a CAAM Part 147 training organisation (2–3 years) → examinations and assessment → 2 years of practical experience on operating aircraft → apply for the Part 66 AML.
Or: self-study on the Part-66 syllabus + examinations + 5 years of practical experience.

The category you must choose
Category A — Aircraft Maintenance Technician.
Category B1 — mechanical: airframe, engines, systems.
Category B2 — avionics: electrical and avionics systems including radio, instruments and navigation equipment.
B1 and B2 are full engineer licences. Many choose B1 because there is more work; B2 is more specialised and people are often harder to find.

Why this route deserves serious consideration
You do not need outstanding SPM results. You do not need a degree. You gain an international licence widely recognised across global aviation, and the shortage of licensed maintenance engineers is a worldwide problem, not just a Malaysian one.

Related fields
Pilot — the other CAAM licence route, far more expensive. Aircraft design — the degree route, a different career. Mechanical if you want an engineering degree with broader industry options.If you are taking the UEC instead of SPM
Everything above still applies to you — the subjects are the same disciplines, only a different exam paper. What changes is the route after it.
The UEC is not accepted for direct entry into a Malaysian public university degree. That is why independent school students overwhelmingly go to private universities in Malaysia, or abroad.
The UEC is treated as equivalent to STPM and A-Level, and it is recognised in the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia and Taiwan — which is why the overseas rate from independent schools is so high.
And the part that costs families real money — read this one properly:
PTPTN eligibility runs through SPM, and a UEC alone does not carry it. To keep the loan available you need a complete SPM, which means two things people get wrong:
Sejarah must be passed. Since SPM 2013 a pass in Sejarah (minimum E) is compulsory for the certificate itself — fail it and you do not have a complete SPM at all.
Bahasa Melayu is usually required at credit (grade C), not merely a pass.
The institution and programme must also be PTPTN-recognised — check that on the PTPTN gateway before you commit to a college.
The UEC route pushes you towards a private degree, and PTPTN is what pays for it. If you have not sat SPM, sit it — and do not treat Sejarah as the throwaway paper.
These conditions change. Verify the current rules with PTPTN before relying on any of this.

Universities

Key institutions: UniKL MIAT (Sepang), MAB Academy, Politeknik Banting, several private aviation colleges.
Pick CAAM/EASA-recognised programmes — verify before paying!

Tuition fees

Part-66 programmes: RM50,000–RM120,000 depending on institution.
Fast payback: licensed LAE pay far exceeds ordinary graduates.

Scholarships

MARA (strong for MIAT), PTPTN, MRO sponsorships (cadet programmes at maintenance companies).

Certification & licence

CAAM, not BEM
This career is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) under the Part 66 and Part 147 framework — not by the Board of Engineers Malaysia.
That means the whole qualification ladder is different: no Graduate Engineer, no PAE, no Ir.

Licence categories
• Category A — Aircraft Maintenance Technician
• Category B1 — Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical)
• Category B2 — Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Electrical/Avionics), covering maintenance and certification on electrical and avionics systems including radio, instruments and navigation equipment on aircraft and powerplant

What the licence allows
The CAAM-issued Part-66 AML allows the holder to issue a Certificate of Release to Service upon completion of maintenance tasks on a Malaysian-registered aircraft.
That is a serious responsibility: your signature states that the aircraft is safe to fly.

Type ratings
The basic licence alone is not enough to certify a specific aircraft. You add type ratings for each model (for example B737, A320). Every type rating you hold raises your value to employers substantially.

Pros

Cons

Future & the AI era

AI aids diagnosis (predictive maintenance) — but the hands that fix and the licence that signs can't be replaced.
Among the most AI-proof technical careers on this list.

Step by step, and how long each takes

  1. SPM — science, and English mattersSPM
    Maths, Physics and English. English is not optional here — all aircraft maintenance manuals, airworthiness directives and technical documentation are in English, and so are the licence examinations.
    Training organisation entry requirements are lighter than an engineering degree — you do not need outstanding results. But you do need meticulousness, because a mistake in this work can kill people.
  2. Training at a CAAM Part 147 organisation2–3 tahun
    You enrol as a full-time student at a CAAM Part 147 approved training organisation (MTO) and undertake a basic licence training programme lasting two or three years, followed by examination and assessment.
    You choose a category: Category A (Aircraft Maintenance Technician), Category B1 (mechanical — airframe, engines, systems), or Category B2 (avionics — electrical and avionics systems including radio, instruments and navigation equipment).
  3. Practical experience on operating aircraft2 tahun
    After training and examinations, you need two years of hands-on maintenance experience on operating aircraft before you are eligible to apply for the licence.
    This is not simulated training — it is real work on real aircraft, under the supervision of licence holders.
  4. The self-study route — 5 yearsAlternatif
    If you do not go through a Part 147 organisation, you can self-study using the CAAM Part-66 syllabus, pass the examinations and assessment, and accumulate at least five years of practical maintenance experience on operating aircraft, with a practical assessment, before you are eligible to apply for the licence.
    This route is longer but lets you work and earn while qualifying.
  5. The AML — and the power to certifySelepas berlesen
    The CAAM Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence allows the holder to issue a Certificate of Release to Service upon completion of maintenance on a Malaysian-registered aircraft.
    That is the signature that lets an aircraft fly — and it is a serious legal and professional responsibility.
    After the basic licence, you add aircraft type ratings (Boeing 737, A320 and so on). Each type adds to your value.

Key SPM subjects

Matematik, Fizik, Bahasa Inggeris

Matematik →Physics →English →

Questions students actually ask

Do I need an engineering degree for this?
No. And this is the most expensive misunderstanding in the field.
This career runs through a CAAM Part 66 licence, not an engineering degree and not BEM registration.
The route: a CAAM Part 147 training organisation (2–3 years) → examinations → 2 years of practical experience on operating aircraft → apply for the licence. Or self-study + 5 years of experience.
Many students enrol in an aerospace engineering degree assuming it leads here. It does not — it leads to design and analysis, a different career with a far smaller Malaysian job market.
Check before enrolling in any programme. This is a four-year mistake if you get it wrong.
B1 or B2 — which should I choose?
Category B1 is mechanical — airframe, engines and systems. This is the category most people choose, and there is more B1 work overall.
Category B2 is avionics — electrical and avionics systems, including radio, instruments and navigation equipment on aircraft and powerplant.
How to choose: if mechanics, engines and physical structures attract you, B1. If electronics, systems and diagnostics attract you, B2.
A practical consideration: B1 has more work, but B2 has fewer licence holders — and in a labour market, scarcity often means better bargaining power. Modern aircraft depend increasingly on avionics, which supports long-run B2 demand.
Can I work overseas?
Yes, and this is the career's biggest advantage.
Aviation runs on international standards, and aircraft maintenance licences are widely recognised across the global industry. The shortage of licensed maintenance engineers is a worldwide problem, not just a Malaysian one.
The Middle East (particularly the Gulf carriers), Singapore and Australia recruit actively, and pay can be multiples of local salaries.
What you need to do: you may need licence conversion or validation depending on the country. Collect type ratings on aircraft commonly used worldwide (Boeing and Airbus families) — those transfer most easily.
Strong English matters too, since all aviation documentation is in English.
Is this work dangerous?
The personal physical risk is moderate and managed — working at height, with heavy tools, chemicals and pressurised systems, all under strict safety protocols.
But the real risk in this work is not to you — it is to other people.
When you sign a Certificate of Release to Service, you are stating that the aircraft is safe to fly with people aboard. A mistake or a shortcut in this work can kill hundreds.
That is why the industry is obsessively procedure-bound: every task is documented, every tool is counted, every step is checked.
What that means for you: if you are meticulous and respect procedure, this is a very well suited and highly respected career. If you tend to take shortcuts, this is not your field — and that is an honest assessment you should make of yourself.
Will AI replace aircraft maintenance engineers?
No — and this field is among the best protected in all of engineering, for a simple and hard-to-argue reason.
The law requires a licensed human to sign. A Certificate of Release to Service must be issued by a licence holder. Software cannot hold a licence, and cannot be accountable when an aircraft goes down.
What changes: predictive maintenance (using flight data to forecast when a component will fail), drone-assisted inspection, and AI-assisted diagnostics. All of this makes the work more precise.
What remains: human hands inside an engine, human eyes on a crack that should not be there, and a human signature carrying legal accountability.
On top of that: the number of aircraft in the world keeps growing, and every one needs scheduled maintenance across its life.
What do aircraft maintenance engineers earn?
Trainee or unlicensed technician RM1,800–3,000 · newly licensed B1/B2 holder RM4,000–7,000 · licensed with several type ratings RM7,000–13,000 · senior engineer or overseas roles RM12,000–25,000+.
The pattern to notice: the biggest jump happens when you get the licence, not when you get experience. Before the licence you are paid as a technician. After it, you can sign a release — and that changes your value sharply.
Practical advice: the pre-licence years are financially hard. Know that, plan for it, and do not give up in year two — because the whole return of this career sits on the other side of that licence.
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Where to study — universities and total fees

University Course Total fees Duration Location
SEGi University & CollegesDiploma · Diploma in Mechanical EngineeringRM 31,5003 YearsKota Damansara / KL / Subang / Penang / Sarawak
INTI International University & CollegesDiploma · Diploma in Mechanical EngineeringRM 38,0402.3 yearsNilai / Subang / Penang
SEGi University & CollegesDegree · B.Eng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (3+0)RM 52,2503 YearsKota Damansara / KL / Subang / Penang / Sarawak
SEGi University & CollegesDegree · Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with HonoursRM 76,2754 YearsKota Damansara / KL / Subang / Penang / Sarawak
INTI International University & CollegesDegree · 3+0 BE (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, Coventry University, UKRM 78,6413 YearsNilai / Subang / Penang
UCSI University / UCSI CollegeDegree · BACHELOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING WITH HONOURSRM 81,2704 yearsCheras, Kuala Lumpur
INTI International University & CollegesDegree · Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with HonoursRM 84,2124 YearsNilai / Subang / Penang
UOW Malaysia (KDU)Degree · Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with HonoursRM 93,0404 yearsGlenmarie, Selangor
MAHSA UniversityDegree · Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with HonoursRM 93,4004 yearsBandar Saujana Putra, Selangor
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)Degree · Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with HonoursRM 118,8004 YearsBukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur
Sunway CollegeDegree · Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with HonoursRM 126,9004 Years (full-time)Bandar Sunway, Selangor
Curtin University MalaysiaDegree · Bachelor of Mechanical EngineeringRM 135,6004 YearsMiri, Sarawak
Sunway UniversityDegree · Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with HonoursRM 144,0004 Years (full-time)Bandar Sunway, Selangor
Taylor’s University / Taylor’s CollegeDegree · Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours)RM 160,4164 yearSubang Jaya, Selangor
Swinburne University of Technology SarawakDegree · BACHELOR IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERINGRM 162,5604 YearsKuching, Sarawak
Heriot-Watt University MalaysiaDegree · MEng Mechanical EngineeringRM 180,0004 yearsPutrajaya
University of Southampton MalaysiaDegree · MEng Mechanical Engineering (4+0)RM 206,8004 yearsIskandar Puteri, Johor
Monash University MalaysiaDegree · Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours)RM 213,1204 yearsBandar Sunway, Selangor
University of Nottingham MalaysiaDegree · MEng (Hons) in Mechanical EngineeringRM 220,0004 YearsSemenyih, Selangor
University of Southampton MalaysiaDegree · MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics (2+2)RM 364,9044 yearsIskandar Puteri, Johor

Fees are a guide only and change every year. Confirm the current figure with the university before you decide.

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Sources

Figures and policy on this page are checked against these reports. Last reviewed 2026-09.

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