Certifying Staff, CAR-66 (GCAA)
The UAE aircraft maintenance engineer licence: categories and sub-categories, basic knowledge and experience, type training, recency, company authorisation and CRS privileges.
CAR-66 certifying staff, summary notes
- CAR-66 governs the UAE Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence and is modelled on EASA Part-66, using the same categories: A (line certifying mechanic), B1 (mechanical), B2 (avionics), B3 (small piston aeroplanes) and C (base maintenance).
- Sub-categories follow the aircraft group: A1 to A4, and B1.1 (turbine aeroplanes), B1.2 (piston aeroplanes), B1.3 (turbine helicopters) and B1.4 (piston helicopters).
- Issue of the licence requires the basic knowledge (the 17 modules, examined by multiple choice at 75 per cent to pass, with essays where required), the relevant basic experience, and, for type privileges, approved type training and examination.
- The licence alone does NOT permit certification. The holder must also work for a CAR-145 approved organisation, hold a current company authorisation issued by that organisation, be current through recent relevant experience, and act within the categories, ratings and limitations endorsed on the licence.
- Recency: the holder must have had relevant maintenance experience within the period defined by the regulation, otherwise the certification privileges lapse until recency is regained.
- Under GCAA, Modules 7, 9 and 10 are examined with a written essay in addition to the multiple-choice paper. EASA removed the Module 9 and 10 essays from June 2024; the GCAA has not.
- Categories
- A (line) · B1 (mechanical) · B2 (avionics) · B3 (light piston) · C (base)
- B1 sub-categories
- B1.1 aero-turbine · B1.2 aero-piston · B1.3 heli-turbine · B1.4 heli-piston
- Right to certify
- CAR-66 licence + company authorisation + recency + within ratings
A CAR-66 B1.1 licence holder joins a new company. May they immediately sign a CRS?
No. The licence establishes their qualification, but they must also hold a current company authorisation from that CAR-145 organisation, be current in recent relevant experience, and work within the ratings and limitations on the licence.
Which category gives the overall release of an aircraft after base maintenance?
Category C, which releases the aircraft on the basis of the underlying B1 and B2 certifications for the individual tasks.
CAR-66 certifying staff quiz
GCAA CAR-66 Certifying Staff, quiz
1. Under CAR-66, the category for a line-maintenance certifying mechanic is:
Category ACategory CCategory B22. Category B2 covers:
Avionics, electrical and electronic/instrument systemsAirframe and enginesBase maintenance release3. The sub-category for turbine helicopters is:
B1.3B1.1B1.44. Category C privileges are to:
Issue the overall release after base maintenanceCertify line maintenance onlyApprove modifications5. Holding a CAR-66 licence by itself allows the holder to:
Nothing on its own, a company authorisation from a CAR-145 organisation is also requiredCertify any aircraft of an endorsed type anywhere in the world, since the licence is issued against the typeApprove major repairs and modifications, provided they fall inside the categories shown on the licence6. The pass mark for CAR-66 basic knowledge examinations is:
75 per cent60 per cent50 per cent7. Under GCAA CAR-66, essay questions are examined in:
Modules 7, 9 and 10Module 7 onlyNo modules8. Type privileges are added to a licence by:
Approved type training and examinationLength of service aloneEmployer request