Aviation Training Hub (ATH) is a strong choice for aircraft maintenance engineering in Islamabad or Karachi if you want a full-time, two-year programme built around EASA Part-66 B1 and B2 modules, five intakes a year, and a published core tuition of PKR 990,000. Both campuses teach the same programme at the same fees, so the real decision is which city suits you and your career plans.

This guide covers what ATH teaches, how the two years are structured, what the programme costs next to training abroad, how the EASA module exams and on-the-job training (OJT) work, how to pick between the Islamabad and Karachi campuses, and who should look at other routes instead. This page is published by ATH, so it is promotional by nature. Every claim below is checkable on ATH's Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programme page or at a linked outside source. Last updated: October 2026.

What Is the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Programme at ATH?

ATH's Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) programme is a two-year, full-time, on-campus licence programme made up of six four-month semesters that work through EASA Part-66 B1 and B2 modules. An aircraft maintenance engineer is a licensed professional who inspects, repairs, and certifies aircraft as fit to fly, and the engineer's signature is what releases an aircraft to service.

You do not need an engineering degree or any prior aviation experience to start. You need the right grades and a real interest in technical work.

Why Choose ATH for Aircraft Maintenance Engineering in Islamabad or Karachi?

Seven things set ATH's AME programme apart for students in Pakistan: a two-year timeline, the same programme in two major cities, open fee figures, five intakes a year, in-country EASA exam sittings, named industry partners, and a path into a bachelor's degree afterwards.

1. Two years, not four. Many university BSc AMET degrees in Pakistan run four years. ATH's route compresses the Part-66 modules into six semesters, so you can be exam-ready and job-ready sooner.
2. The same programme in two major cities. Islamabad and Karachi students follow the same curriculum, fees, and intake calendar, so choosing a city does not mean choosing a different qualification.
3. Fees you can read before you apply. Admission is PKR 150,000 once, each semester is PKR 140,000, EASA exams are €139 each, and OJT starts from PKR 8,000. The full table is further down this page.
4. Five intakes a year. Rolling entry in January, April, July, September, and November means you rarely wait long for a start date.
5. EASA exam sittings inside Pakistan. ATH's 2026 exam schedule lists sittings in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, as covered in the exams section below.
6. Named industry partners. ATH lists Ikaros Aviation Training Center, an EASA Part-147 approved organization, among its aviation partners, and the programme page names MRO Gulf, Etihad Airways, and Serene Air as industry partners.
7. A route to a degree. Graduates who meet the entry rules can move on to the BSc (Hons) Aircraft Engineering Management top-up without restarting from year one.

Scholarships are also available, and the ATH fee structure page asks applicants to contact the admissions department for details.

How Does ATH Structure the Two-Year Programme?

This section describes ATH's own programme design, not a third-party finding. ATH splits the EASA Part-66 modules across two years, with foundations first and specialised systems second, and assesses students through assignments and practical projects rather than exams alone.

ATH describes its assessment as assignment-based, built around real-world application where students work through practical tasks and projects. That matters in this field, because a certifying engineer is judged on applying a manual to a live defect, not on recalling a formula.

The journey from enquiry to licence follows a simple order at ATH:

1. Apply for the next intake at the Islamabad or Karachi campus.
2. Complete six semesters of four months each, covering the Part-66 modules above.
3. Register and sit the EASA module exams progressively, 16 in total, each paid one month before the exam.
4. Complete OJT through ATH's partner network, with fees starting from PKR 8,000 depending on partner and scope.
5. Choose your next step: enter the industry or continue to the BSc top-up.

Islamabad or Karachi: Which ATH Campus Should You Choose?

Choose the campus that is closest to where you can live comfortably for two years, because the qualification, fees, and intake calendar are identical at both. What differs is the city, your living costs, and the local aviation scene around you.

The Islamabad context is new. In July 2026, Profit by Pakistan Today reported that NORTEK and Airblue are developing a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility at Islamabad International Airport that will seek EASA approval and service Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aircraft. A Flight Training Centre with a full flight simulator is tentatively scheduled for April 2027, though no timeline was given for the MRO and hangar themselves.

Here is a quick way to decide:

• Pick Islamabad if you live in or near the capital region, or you want to be near a project that could create engineering roles once it is operating.
• Pick Karachi if you are based in Sindh or Balochistan, you want to stay close to family, or you prefer to train in Pakistan's biggest city.
• Pick on lifestyle, not rumour. Neither campus gives your licence extra weight, so rent, commute, and family support should carry most of the decision.

How Much Does the ATH Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Programme Cost?

The ATH AME programme costs PKR 990,000 in core tuition, which is the PKR 150,000 admission fee plus six semester fees of PKR 140,000. EASA exam fees and OJT are billed separately.

To see how that compares with training abroad, Air Service Training's published fees page lists its two-year Part-66 B1/B2 approved basic training programme at £18,500.40 including VAT, payable in four instalments. UK student visa applicants also need to show maintenance funds of £1,136 per month for the first nine months.

These figures are in different currencies and cover different scopes, so use them to compare scale rather than to the last rupee. For most families, staying in Pakistan for the training years removes the largest costs: overseas tuition, visa funds, and relocation.

How Do the EASA Module Exams and On-the-Job Training Work at ATH?

ATH students sit 16 EASA module exams progressively across the programme and complete OJT through ATH's partner network. You pay €139 for each exam one month before it, and OJT costs start from PKR 8,000.

ATH's exams registration page lists the current sitting at three centres:

The last registration date for this sitting is 18 October 2026, and students register through the ATH student portal. Dates change from sitting to sitting, so confirm them on the registration page before you plan travel or fees.

OJT is where the theory meets a live aircraft. Practical exposure with a partner organization is something regulators and employers look for, so treat it as a core part of the programme rather than an add-on. ATH's partners page lists the aviation partners, and the admissions team can tell you which partner and scope apply to your intake.

Is There Real Demand for Aircraft Maintenance Engineers After You Qualify?

Yes. Boeing's 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook forecasts that 728,000 new maintenance technicians will be needed worldwide between 2026 and 2045, and 48,000 of them in South Asia.

The same report says the industry still faces a significant technician shortage, with demand expected to nearly replace the entire current workforce by 2045. It also describes maintenance technician hiring as one of the most competitive parts of the aviation labour market, which is a polite way of saying qualified people are hard to find.

At home, the Islamabad MRO plan reported in July 2026 points the same way. Pakistan's aviation sector is working to reduce its reliance on overseas maintenance providers, and that only works if there are enough licensed engineers to staff the hangars. Forecasts are not guarantees, and nobody can promise you a job, but the direction of travel favours people who qualify now.

What Can You Do After the Two-Year Programme?

After the two-year programme, ATH lists careers in aircraft maintenance organizations, manufacturing, the government sector, repair stations, self-employment, and aviation consultancy. Others continue into a one-year bachelor's top-up.

Your career level also depends on the licence category you work toward. EASA's Part-66 guidance sets out the categories most national authorities build on:

ATH's programme integrates both B1 and B2 modules, so you are not forced to pick mechanical or avionics on day one. If you want to move into leadership later, the BSc (Hons) Aircraft Engineering Management top-up is a one-year programme that asks for an EASA or PCAA aircraft maintenance qualification with all modules cleared and at least two years of industry experience. Intakes run in January, May, and September.

How Do You Check Any AME Institute Before You Enrol?

Verify the institute's regulatory position in writing before you pay anything, whichever institute you are considering. This is the single check that protects you most, and ATH invites you to run it on ATH too.

• Ask which licence the programme leads to: a PCAA licence, an EASA Part-66 licence, or both, and who recognises each exam.
• Ask for the approval documents of the training organization and the exam provider, rather than relying on a brochure.
• Ask where exams are sat and what each sitting costs, so there are no surprises on exam week.
• Ask what the OJT involves: the partner, the scope, the hours, and the fee.
• Ask what happens after graduation: placement support, a top-up degree, or neither.
• Visit the campus and speak to current students. The Life at ATH page is a useful starting point before you do.

Who Should Think Twice Before Choosing ATH?

ATH's AME programme is not the right fit for everyone, and saying so saves you time and money. Consider other routes if any of these describe you:

• You want a full four-year degree from day one. A university BSc AMET gives you a degree and the licence modules together. ATH's route gives you the licence modules first and the degree through a top-up later.
• You do not meet the entry grades. The 50% minimum in Mathematics and Physics is the stated entry requirement, so you would need to address that first.
• You prefer a part-time or distance route. The ATH programme is full-time and on-campus.
• You are not ready to commit to hands-on work. Hangar work is physical, detail-heavy, and carries real legal responsibility.

How Do You Apply to the ATH Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Programme?

You apply by contacting the admissions team at your chosen campus, confirming that you meet the grade requirement, and joining the next intake. As of October 2026, the next listed intake month is November, followed by January.

1. Check eligibility: Matric or FSc with at least 50% in Mathematics and Physics.
2. Choose a campus: Islamabad or Karachi.
3. Contact the aviation admissions team through the ATH contact page and ask about the next intake and any scholarship options.
4. Pay the admission fee of PKR 150,000 to secure your place. It is non-refundable.
5. Start your first semester and plan your EASA exam budget from the beginning.

Conclusion

So, why choose ATH for aircraft maintenance engineering in Islamabad or Karachi? Because it offers a two-year, six-semester route into B1 and B2 modules, five intakes a year, PKR 990,000 in core tuition, EASA exam sittings inside Pakistan, named industry partners, and a path to a bachelor's degree. The qualification is the same in both cities, so pick the campus that makes your two years easier to live through.

Demand for engineers is real, with Boeing forecasting 48,000 new technicians in South Asia alone through 2045, but a good start still depends on checking approvals, understanding every fee, and taking OJT seriously. If this programme looks like a fit, talk to the admissions team and ask them the questions in this guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about studying aircraft maintenance engineering at ATH in Islamabad or Karachi