I believe I can fly…I believe I can touch the sky…..have you heard this song by R. Kelly which topped the world music charts in the 90’s? This must be the song that inspires aeronautical engineers. These engineers don’t necessarily fly aircrafts but without their help, flying any aircraft would be nearly impossible.
Aeronautical engineering is a branch of engineering which uses the science of propulsion and aerodynamics for aircraft design, construction and testing of aircraft, missiles and spacecrafts.
The specialisations in Aeronautical engineering include:
- Structural design
- Navigational guidance and control systems
- Instrumentation
- Communication or production methods for products like military aircrafts, passenger planes, helicopters, satellites, rockets etc.
Amongst all the courses in engineering, aeronautical engineering is a niche field and is only available in a select few universities in each country. The course content is specialised; therefore the fee is slightly higher than other courses. Following are some of the countries which have the best universities for aeronautical engineering:
USA- There are more than 60 universities in USA which offer courses in Aeronautical engineering. Universities like California Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oklahoma State University and Princeton University offer Bachelors in Science degrees. The duration of these courses is around 4 to 5 years and the fee is approximately $26,000 to $35,000 per annum. Associate degrees are also available in some universities
UK- U.K. has an advanced economy as well as one of the leading educational systems in the world. The degrees are recognised throughout the world due to its high standard and quality. At the undergraduate level, aeronautical engineering can be studied as B.Eng. or M.Eng. The first institution in the UK to teach aeronautical engineering was Queen Mary, University of London. The Times' top 10 universities for aeronautical engineering in UK (for 2012) are University of Cambridge, University of Surrey, University of Bristol, University of Southampton, Queens University Belfast, University of Sheffield, Newcastle University, University of Bath, Imperial College London, Loughborough University and University of Nottingham. The courses are for duration of 3 to 4 years and the fee per annum is approximately around 13,000 pounds to 16,000 pounds.
Australia- In Australia, aeronautical engineering is offered as a ‘Bachelor of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering’ and ‘Bachelor of Technology in Aeronautical Engineering’ degrees. The courses are for duration of 4 years. Universities like the Monash University, University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University of Adelaide and Queensland University of Technology offer courses in Aeronautical Engineering. The course fee is around AUD 25,000 to AUD 35,000. Many universities offer double degree courses as well wherein you can study arts, law, sciences and commerce subjects along with aeronautical engineering. The duration and fee varies accordingly.
India- In India, courses in aeronautical engineering are offered at both the undergraduate and the post graduate levels. The basic eligibility criteria for BE/B.Tech programme in aeronautical engineering is 10+2 with science subjects, (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics), or equivalent examination, with at least 60% marks in aggregate. It is also mandatory to qualify in the Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE), conducted by the IITs. Besides the IITs, there are other institutes which conduct their respective entrance examinations for offering admission to students. But most colleges which offer engineering courses in aeronautics consider JEE score as the qualifying grade. Diploma courses are also available in aeronautical engineering. The BE/B.Tech courses are for a duration of four years while diploma programmes are for a duration of 2-3 years. The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at Mumbai, Kharagpur, Chennai, and Kanpur are the topmost colleges for aeronautical engineering in India.
It’s common knowledge that the first forms of man-made flying objects were kites. The earliest known record of kite flying is from around 200 BC in China, when a general flew a kite over enemy territory to calculate the length of tunnel required to enter the region. Also, Yuan Huangtou, a Chinese prince, is known to have survived by tying himself to a kite. Looks like our interest in flying and flying objects is not new at all!
As an aeronautical engineer you will be trained in many aspects of engineering will also study subjects like:
- Principles of Flight
- Aerodynamics
- Aircraft structure
- Propulsion
- Avionics
- Electronics
- Metrology
- Airworthiness Regulations
- Air Traffic Control
You will have to choose an area of specialisation from aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication, etc. You could also choose to specialise in aeronautical products like commercial transport, military fighter jets, helicopters, spacecrafts, missiles or rockets.
Post the training session, you will be given scrap parts of an aircraft and as a part of the final presentation, you will be expected to make a fully functioning aircraft and even fly it.
Scared you! There’s a long way before you get to do that…so don’t worry!
After pursuing a course in aeronautical engineering, an individual would surely be able to use his acquired knowledge and skills anywhere in the world. Aeronautical engineers have a range of job options in the aviation, aeronautical and defence industries. Aeronautical engineers work in areas like design, development, and maintenance as well as in the managerial and teaching posts in institutes. There is a huge need for aeronautical engineers in airlines, aircraft manufacturing units, air turbine production plants or design development programmes for the aviation industry.
There is no dearth of opportunities for those who wish to work abroad. In fact, a large number of engineers at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States) are Indians. The same is the case with other airline companies like Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, etc.
How do you know that the guy/girl you are dating is going to be an aeronautical engineer? Check for these signs- if your girlfriend/boyfriend brings you a tool kit for a birthday present or prefers to only appreciate the engine of your newly bought car rather than its flashy exteriors, you are surely dating a future aeronautical engineer……that’s a good career so hold on to him/her.
Aeronautical engineering offers a wide range of careers in research, design, development, testing, manufacture and maintenance. Engineers specialise in areas like propulsion, computational fluid dynamics, aerodynamics or materials and structures. You also have the option to work as a structural designer or gain expertise in navigational guidance and control systems. Alternatively, you could specialise on a particular product such as a war plane or space missile etc.
If you are computer savvy, then you can learn to draw project plans using computer aided design (CAD) software. Aircraft maintenance is also another field which requires aeronautical engineers. You can join the ‘Air accidents Investigation Bureau’ which is responsible for finding out the cause of air mishaps.
Have you heard of the 'Black Box'? It is a flight data recorder which helps analysts determine the cause of aircraft crashes. And guess what…..it is not black at all; it is actually bright orange in color.
You must have read in your school books that wars have been a reason of massive industrial production and technical innovation. Both during the World War I and II, millions were spent on mass production of aircrafts making the pioneers of the aircraft industry powerful and very rich. The growth was exponential and now one cannot think of travelling long distance except in an airplane.
The Indian aeronautical industry is also growing rapidly. You could work in one of the prestigious government owned enterprises like:
- ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)
- DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)
- HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.)
- NAL (National Aeronautics Labs)
Alternatively, you could also work for private airlines like:
- Air India
- Indian Airlines
- Jet Airways
- Indigo airlines
- Spice Jet
- KingFisher
Wouldn’t it be simply great if we could own an airplane and be able to fix it when something goes wrong? But it isn’t!
It’s not the same as owning a car and fixing it when it breaks down or gives you trouble. The process is much more complicated and the stakes are very high. Because of even the minutest of flaws, many lives can be lost and financial losses can run into millions.
Therefore, aeronautical engineers usually work in teams under the supervision of senior engineers, bringing together their skills and technical expertise. As a fresher with a degree in aeronautical engineering, we suggest that you concentrate on gaining experience in the aircraft industry which will give you a broad understanding of how this sector works. This will later help you when you start your own business.
So, yes! You can have your own enterprise provided you have the expertise and the money to back it up.
Aeronautical engineering has become a highly paid and prestigious career option. Although salary of most aeronautical engineers depends on their academic excellence and individual skills, but the average start-up pay in this field is much higher than other engineering fields.
Salary and perks are better in the private sector than in the government sector. The approximate starting salaries in the government/public sectors, such as HAL and NAL, are Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 per month. Those working in research organizations, like ISRO and DRDO, get paid a monthly remuneration of Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 45,000. Engineering graduates with management degrees are absorbed at starting salaries of around Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 per month plus perks. The salaries increase based on their performance.
Following is the salary range of Indian aeronautical engineers in the private sector:
| Experience in Years | Compensation per annum |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5 years | 3 lakh to 6 lakhs |
| 6 to 10 years | 6 to 15 lakhs |
| 11 to 15 years | 15 to 25 lakhs |
| 15 years | 25 lakhs and above |
It is possible that your understanding of aeronautical engineering as a degree turns out to be different than what it is in reality? In such a scenario, you could complete your degree and divert your career into a different field, or you could study an alternative course as a part of your graduation. For example: By getting a management degree on top of your aeronautical degree, you could steer your career towards a management role and avoid the physical labour involved in the life of an aeronautical engineer.
Following are some of the alternative career choices that you could pursue:
- Architects
- Engineering and natural sciences managers
- Computer and information systems managers
- Computer software engineers
- Mathematicians
- Engineering technicians
- Sales engineers
- Physicists and astronomers
Aeronautical engineers work only at the airports. Nah…Wrong perception! Most aeronautical engineers work in office buildings or industrial plants. Others spend time outdoors at production sites, where they monitor or direct operations or solve onsite problems. Some engineers travel extensively to plants or worksites.
Following are some of the advantages of being an aeronautical engineer:
- A highly paid and respectable job
- The standard of living is high
- Aircraft travel is free for the company that you work for
- Both the government and the private sector give a lot of benefits to retain their skilled workforce.
Kalpana Chawla, the astronaut who died in the Columbia disaster was an aeronautical engineer. Sounds like risky business! Following are the lesser known disadvantages of being an aeronautical engineer:
- Though highly paid, the work is very demanding
- Involves a great deal of travel specially for flight testing engineers
- You always have to stay physically fit to take the kind of physical and emotional stress related to the job.
Do you know that our former President of India, A.P.J Abdul Kalam was an aeronautical engineer? If he is your idol, then you have made the right career choice.
Following are some of the skill sets needed to be an aeronautical engineer:
- Mathematical precision
- An eye for detail
- Physical fitness
- Keen on team work
- Dedication
If seeing an aircraft excites you and you can’t help but wonder how it functions so effectively, then be an aeronautical engineer and find out. It’s possible that with your efforts, airline companies will be able to save those thousands of lives that are lost in aircraft disasters every year. A pretty noble cause, don’t you think?
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