Apply for a UK Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence

Applicants should demonstrate their breadth and depth of experience of aircraft systems & sub-systems when submitting licence applications. Tasks should be representative of the aircraft and systems both in complexity and in the technical input required to complete that task. While relatively simple tasks may be included, other more complex maintenance tasks should be incorporated and undertaken as appropriate to the aircraft type.

Where there is commonality between the trades / existing licence scope, focus should be directed to the B1 element(s). Ensure all the related content is enclosed with the supporting work records and is written in a manner that gives the reader a clear understanding of the task and the work that was performed.

A simple title with an AMM reference fails to fully identify the work that was performed in most instances, additional information such as challenges faced, troubleshooting steps undertaken and any specialist tools used gives better credit to the experience gained. Multiple boxes in the CAP741 can be used for each entry.

Simple functional checks, operational tests or inspection checks alone are insufficient for a B licence.

Please note the following regarding your experience;

• The CAP 741 style experience record must be presented in ATA order.
• Must contain sufficient detailed experience as required by 66.A.30(a) without extended gaps in experience.
• Sufficient evidence of detailed experience as required by 66.A.30(b) for addition of a category or subcategory for a licence.
• Experience shall be practical and involve a representative cross section of maintenance tasks on aircraft 66.A.30(c).
  • Applicants should demonstrate their breadth and depth of experience of the aircraft systems & sub systems when submitting licence applications. Tasks should be representative of the aircraft and systems both in complexity and in the technical input required to complete that task. While relatively simple tasks may be included, other more complex maintenance tasks should be incorporated and undertaken as appropriate to the aircraft type. See GM 66.A.20(a)(1), AMC 66.A.20(b)(2)(2) , AMC 66.A.30(a)(4) & Appendix II list of tasks.
• Evidence of recent experience as required by 66.A.30(d). This is 1 year for the most applications.
• Ex-military candidates must demonstrate 12 months experience in civil aircraft maintenance (66.A.30(e)).
• Experience shall be acquired within 10 years preceding the application (66.A.30(f)). Older evidence may be taken into consideration.
• Sufficient experience, appropriate to the category, of work in areas including:
  • Electrical - aircraft electrical power supply source, plus the distribution system to the different components contained in the aircraft and relevant connectors.
  • Continuity, insulation and bonding techniques and testing.
  • Crimping and testing of crimped joints.
  • Connective devices typically connector pin removal and insertion.
  • Wiring protection techniques.
  • CDCCL, AWL, EWIS tasks as applicable to aircraft type(s) on which experience was gained.
  • Coding/re-coding/calibration.
  • Wiring changes/upgrades.
  • Modification/STC embodiment/changes.
  • Use of avionic test equipment.
  • Metal structure/skin damage assessment and repair.
  • Composite structure/skin damage assessment and repair.
  • Troubleshooting and fault diagnosis in the chapters applicable to the licence.
  • Avionic systems as applicable to the licence, typically chapters such as ATA 22, 24 and 34.
  • B2 applicants providing experience of ground handling a line maintenance servicing as required by 66.A.20(a)3(ii).

     

Typical categories of tasks would include the following:

• Functional Checks
• Operational Checks
• Component replacement
• Troubleshooting
• Defect rectification
• Scheduled & Unscheduled maintenance checks
• Minor repairs & modifications
• Servicing
• Releasing the aircraft for service

• Missing identification documents
• Missing supporting documents
• Missing or incomplete On the Job Training (OJT)
• Each document is not a clear and complete, legible certified true colour copy. 
• Expired basic or type rating training Certificates of Recognition (C of R’s). (10 years basic, 3 years type).
• EASA Part 147 C of R’s dated after 31 December 2022
• OJT not from an approved UK Part 145 organisation (OJT is required for Group 1 aircraft)
• Unsigned licence (ANO Part 4 Chap 1 Para 36.(7))
• CAP 741 experience logbook with the following anomalies:
  • Experience not meeting t minimum experience required (66.A.30)
  • Lack of recency (66.A.30(d))
  • Large gaps in logbook timeline
  • Insufficient experience, appropriate to the category or subcategory of licence
  • Not ATA order
  • Lacking in
  • Military applicant without 12 months civil experience

Applicants for Category C will need to demonstrate one of the following experience requirements.

With respect to complex motor-powered aircraft:

• Three years of experience exercising category B1.1, B1.3 or B2 privileges on complex motor-powered aircraft or as support staff according to point 145.A.35, or a combination of both.
• Five years of experience exercising category B1.2 or B1.4 privileges on complex motor-powered aircraft or as support staff according to point 145.A.35, or a combination of both.

With respect to other than complex motor-powered aircraft:

Three years of experience exercising category B1 or B2 privileges on other than complex motor-powered aircraft or as support staff according to point 145.A.35, or a combination of both:

The above experience requirement should be practical involving a representative cross section of maintenance tasks on operating aircraft specific to the category to be applied for.

You must complete any training course, basic knowledge examinations and relevant practical maintenance experience within the 10 years preceding the application for an Aircraft Maintenance Licence.

The recommendation document will need to be completed by a Quality Manager or the immediate senior person within the Quality Department of your current employer, or the organisation where the experience is gained.

For any application for a Category C licence, it will be expected that the applicant provides evidence of their company authorisation (66.A.30(a)). This should include evidence that they have held an authorisation for the entire period shown in 66.A.30(a). Normally this will involve submission of multiple Part 145 certifying staff authorisation records.

Once all requirements have been met, please complete the Aircraft Maintenance Licence online application form on the CAA Portal. For more information and guidance regarding the new process, please refer to AMEL portal form user guide.

If you have not used the CAA Customer Portal before, you will need to create an account before you can access the online application form. Once registered, you can start your application by clicking on the ‘Aircraft maintenance licence applications’ link under the list of available services.

The fee of £410.00 per Category/Sub-Category applied for.

If you are applying for any other additional services, the appropriate fee will also apply.

An additional fee will be payable if you wish your documents to be returned by secure courier.

Full details are available in the current Scheme of Charges (Personnel licensing).

Applications and documents posted from outside the UK

When submitting applications or documentation via post/courier to the UK please ensure that you complete the import declaration on any package in the correct manner.
Please ensure that you enter the “Value” of the package content as zero/nil. Otherwise, this will generate import duties in the UK which will be re-charged to you.”

While there is a fee for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) application process, this does not represent an importation value of the package content. Therefore, the application fee should not be stated on the import declaration form that a candidate completes when posting supporting documents to CAA UK.

There have been a number of applications received from Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML) applicants applying for issue of an AML or for additional privileges to be added to an existing AML which have been rejected by us due to, for example, lack of experience criteria. This has resulted in the us refunding 100% of the application charge paid even though our time has been incurred to review the application in order to reach the rejection decision.

We are required to recover its costs from those that have caused those costs to be incurred. Therefore, for applications received from 15 September 2016, we will deduct £218 to recover the average costs of its application review, in respect of those applications that we have rejected or where the applicant has withdrawn his/her application before we have completed its review.

This deduction is associated with applications in respect of AML activities under the UK Official Record Series 5, Personnel Licensing Scheme of Charges. This action is in line with the CAA Charges Waiver and Refund Policy.

As part of the application, you will be asked to upload the following supporting documentation:

• Proof of your ID (This can be a certified copy of your valid passport/full UK photographic driving licence, or a close-up photo of you holding your ID in which your face and ID are clearly visible). If the CAA has a valid ID document on file for you, you will not be asked to supply this again
• Certified copies of the appropriate Exam Certificates completed for the additional category/sub-category applied for.
• A copy of the EU/EASA Organisation Approval Certificate (Form 11) valid at the time the course was completed, (only for applications where training was completed with a non-UK EASA organisation)
• Certified copies of the logbook/worksheets showing the evidence of the practical maintenance experience gained.
• Recommendation Form (SRG1029), ensuring that it has been completed by your Quality Manager in support of your application (the recommendation can also be completed by: Part 145 FAR 145, CAMO, CAO, or a UK Part 66 Engineer licence holder).

For guidance on who can certify your documents or for examples of acceptable ID, please refer to Supporting documentation for Engineer licensing applications.

You are required to return your original Part 66 licence to the CAA before we can start the application assessment process. As soon as you have submitted this online application, please post your original licence to:

Civil Aviation Authority
Engineer Licensing, SSC
Aviation House
Beehive Ring Road
Crawley
West Sussex
RH6 0YR

Please quote your online application reference number when sending your licence to us, so that we can match your licence to your application.

Please note that as long as you have confirmation that you have submitted your application to the CAA, you can continue to exercise the privileges of your licence after you have posted it to us.

Processing time

The Service Level Agreement (SLA) for initial Part-66 licences is 31 working days. This includes initial assessment by a Licensing Officer (10 working days), technical assessment of your on the job experience by a Surveyor (20 working days), plus an additional day for issue and dispatch of the licence.

You will receive automated email updates as your application progresses through the process. You can also track the progress of your application at any time by logging into your CAA Customer Portal account, selecting "Your Services" and then selecting the Aircraft Maintenance Licence Service. You may then click on "All Applications" for further information.

Where an application is placed on hold, the working days to process the application will be counted from the date of receipt of the requested additional information. Should the application be placed on hold by a surveyor, the new SLA for the application will be 21 working days.

For this reason, please be diligent in reviewing the guidance on this site, within the application and the requirements of UK Part 66, before application. Missing information or certification will delay your application and may result in the application being rejected. A fee will be charged if the assessment results in the rejection of your application. This will also be applied if you choose to cancel your application

For a small number of applications, a Licensing Officer may require additional guidance which requires a referral to be made to a Technical Officer. The Technical Officer will review the case within five working days, however if further advice is needed this will be reviewed at a bi-weekly complex case review session. In such cases the application will take longer to process than our standard turnaround times.

If you are dissatisfied by the service provided to you by us, or wish to raise a complaint regarding a member of staff, our complaints process is detailed on our dedicated complaints webpage.

• The assessment of your application is completed by a Licensing Officer and Airworthiness Surveyor.
• Following an acceptable assessment, the licence is then processed, signed and dispatched to the individual.
• We will contact you if we have any queries regarding your application and may keep your application pending for 30 working days awaiting any additional documentation to be submitted. Following this period, the CAA may reject the application if no satisfactory response is received.
• Should an application be unsuccessful, a rejection fee will be deducted from the application fee to cover the cost of the assessment carried out. The remainder may be refunded to the applicant.
• Should you choose to cancel your application, a fee will apply.

The UK Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence is valid for five years from the date of issue.

You will need to Renew a UK Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence.