Aeronautical Engineering Subjects

Aeronautical Engineering is counted among the elite Engineering branches and involves the study of the design, construction as well as maintenance of aircraft. Attracting scores of prospective engineers from all around the world, the field offers rewarding career opportunities. From constructing ingenious aircraft designs and fighter jets to envisaging spacecraft missions, the job of an Aeronautical Engineer is highly demanding and exciting at the same time. This blog has been crafted for you to particularly understand the list of Aeronautical Engineering subjects offered as a part of the course.

Also Read: Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Colleges

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What is Aeronautical Engineering?

A prominent branch of Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering aims to study the design, development and manufacturing of aircraft and propulsion systems as well as the functioning of aircraft and rockets. In simple terms, it explores the operational systems and structures of aircraft and related equipment and technology. Here are the core Aeronautical Engineering subjects:

• Materials Sciences
• Aircraft Performance and Aircraft Structures
• Propulsion
• Fluid Dynamics
• Structural Analysis
• Automatic Control & Guidance
• Solid Mechanics

Aeronautical Engineering Subjects: Specialisations

Given below are some of the Aeronautical Engineering subjects which are available as specialisation options for students across the world.

• Aircraft Transportation Systems
• Aerospace Propulsion
• Aerodynamics
• Fluid Dynamics
• Communication
• Instrumentation
• Navigational and Guidance Control Systems
• Aircraft Materials
• Electronic Systems
• Ground Vehicle Systems

Curriculum Breakdown of Aeronautical Engineering Subjects

Aeronautical structures are a unique blend of computational accuracy, precise instrumentation and elegant design. Individuals are given appropriate training in a host of Aeronautical Engineering subjects so that they are able to establish a solid grasp of fundamental concepts as well as build a diverse understanding of the discipline. Mentioned below is a summarized list of various subjects included in Aeronautical Engineering:

Aeronautical Engineering Subjects	Topics Covered
Aerospace Engineering Systems	Introduction to Design, Solid Modelling, Computer-aided Simulation, Microcontrollers, Embedded Programming, Signals and Sensors, Computer-aided Design, Simulation and Fabrication.
Solid Mechanics and Aerospace Structures	Aerospace Structural Components, Stress and Strain Measures and Transformation, Axially Loaded Bars, Failure and Fracture Criteria, Beam Theory and Torsion of Bars.
Computer-Aided Design	Computer Generation of Geometric Models, Design Parameters, Trade-off Diagrams, Finite-element Modelling and Analysis, Computer Designing for Dynamics and Fluids.
Aircraft Design	Aircraft Design Process, Aircraft Polars, High Lift Devices, Drag Estimation, Design Speeds, Propeller Design, Level Flight and Trim, Aircraft Structural Design, Aeroelasticity and Wing Divergence.
Thermodynamics, Gas and Fluid Dynamics	Conservation Laws, Fluid Properties, One-dimensional Flows, Shock and Expansion Waves, Molecular and Continuum Concepts, Flows in Nozzles and Thermodynamics Laws.
Fluid Dynamics	Equations of Motion for Flight Vehicles, Computer Simulation of Flight Vehicles, Flight Vehicle Dynamics and Control and Flight-oriented Models.
Aircraft Propulsion	Combustion Processes, Air-breathing Propulsion, Rocket Propulsion, Advanced Propulsion, Thermodynamics, Turbojets, Turbofans, Nuclear Propulsion Systems and Rocket Engines.
Aerodynamics	Fundamental Concepts, Potential Flow, Lift, Turbulence, Compressibility Boundary Layers, Airfoil Design, Aerodynamics of 3D Design and High-speed Aerodynamics.
Aircraft and Spacecraft Structures	Equations of Linear Elasticity, Boundary Value Problem, Deformation of Structural Elements: Shafts, Bars, Plates etc, Mechanics of Structural Stability, Structural Vibration and Numerical Methods.
Aircraft Dynamics	Dynamic Equations of Motion, Linear Systems Theory, Aircraft Lateral Flight Dynamics, Stability Derivatives and Modern Computational Tools.
Aircraft Control	Stability Analysis, Effect of Delay and Zeros, State-space Models, Observers, Coupled-axis Control, Effect of Nonlinearities, Application to Aircraft and Spacecraft.
Finite Elements in Mechanical and Structural Analysis	Virtual Work Energy Formulations, Linear Finite Elements-based Upon Displacements, Applications to Structures like Trusses, Beams, Shells, General Solids and Quasi-static Displacement.
Solid and Structural Mechanics	Linear Elasticity, Boundary Value Problem Formulation and Solution Techniques, Energy Methods, Thin-walled Aerospace Structures and Small Strain Elasto-plasticity.

Apart from the above mentioned topics, a few more Aeronautical Engineering subjects have been mentioned below.

• Composite Materials
• Engineering Physics and Chemistry
• Material Sciences
• Computer Programming
• Aircraft Performance
• Theory of Vibrations
• Kinematics
• Rockets and Missiles
• Reliability Engineering
• Combustion
• Stress Analysis
• Space Mechanics
• Smart Materials
• Robotics
• Avionics
• Aeroelasticity
• Hydraulics
• Guidance and Navigation
• Aircraft Safety and Regulations
• Artificial Intelligence
• Product Design and Development

B Tech Aeronautical Engineering Syllabus

Here are the subjects in the B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering syllabus:

• Engineering Physics
• Aircraft Structures
• Mathematics
• Flight Dynamics
• Engineering Chemistry
• CAM and Manufacturing Laboratory
• Experimental Stress Analysis
• Numerical Methods
• Aircraft Design Project
• Aerodynamics
• Aircraft Systems
• Control Engineering
• Computer Programming
• Environmental Science and Engineering
• Engineering Graphics
• Aircraft Structures
• Laboratory
• Computer Practices
• Communication and Soft Skills
• Principles of Management
• Physics and Chemistry Laboratory
• Composite Materials and Structures
• Transforms and Partial Differential Equations
• Vibrations and Elements of Aeroelasticity
• Manufacturing Technology
• Aero Engineering Thermodynamics
• Aircraft Materials and Processes
• Fluid Mechanics and Machinery
• Aero Engine and Airframe
• Avionics Thermodynamics
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Aircraft Systems and Instruments

What does an Aeronautical Engineer do?

There is a diverse set of roles and responsibilities carried out by Aeronautical Engineers as they are not just part of the aviation industry but also the air force of the country, or the defence sector. Aeronautical Engineers mainly design aircraft and propulsion systems, carry out extensive research and development of civil and military aircraft as well as maintain and test them to ensure their optimum performance. They devise different types of aircraft and utilise Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to design aircraft, their equipment as well as related avionics. The aircraft can range from commercial aeroplanes, helicopters, and airbuses to military aircraft.

Course Overview

Whether it is a BSc Aeronautics, Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering or BSc Aviation, Aeronautical Engineering subjects are highly advanced and require intensive mathematical coursework. Along with encompassing multiple disciplines such as Instrumentation and Control Engineering and Robotics and Automation Engineering, it requires a high degree of creativity as well as an understanding of practicality and feasibility. To support and complement the theoretical development of students, suitable practical labs and simulations are conducted as a part of the course curriculum.

Also Read: Aviation Courses after Graduation

List of Courses in Aeronautical Engineering

Mainly offered at the undergraduate as well as diploma level, Aeronautical Engineering is amongst the choicest specializations for those wanting to pursue a career in aviation. Before elaborating on the Aeronautical Engineering subjects, let’s first take a look at some of the major degree programs offered in this field:

• Bachelor’s in Aeronautical Engineering
• BEng Aerospace Engineering
• BSc Aeronautics
• BTech in Avionics
• BE/BTech in Aeronautical Engineering
• BE in Aircraft Engineering
• Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering
• MEng in Aeronautical Management
• Master’s in Aerospace Engineering
• Master’s in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
• MTech in Space Engineering and Rocketry
• PhD in Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering

Top Universities & Colleges Offering Aeronautical Engineering Courses

There is a wide range of educational institutions across the globe that offer Aeronautical Engineering courses. Below we have listed down the prominent Aeronautical Engineering colleges as well as universities around the world that you must consider for your chosen degree or diploma in this field:

S. No	University Name	Rankings	Program	Course	Duration	Tuition Fees (INR)
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	1	Undergraduate	Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering	4 Years	44,08,000
2	Stanford University	2	Undergraduate	Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering	4 Years	38,37,000
3	University of Cambridge	3	Undergraduate	Aerospace and Aerothermal Engineering	4 Years	34,09,000
4	The University of California, Berkley (UCB)	6	Undergraduate	Aerospace Engineering	4 Years	18,43,000
5	Imperial College London	8	Undergraduate	MEng in Aeronautical Engineering	4 Years	33,69,000
6	University of Michigan – Ann Arbor	12	Undergraduate	Aerospace Engineering	4 Years	40,73,000
7	Georgia Institute of Technology	14	Undergraduate	Aerospace Engineering	4 Years	24,00,000
8	California Institute of Technology	17	Undergraduate	Aerospace Minor	4 Years	43,13,000
9	Purdue University	20	Undergraduate	Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering	4 Years	12,56,000
10	The University of Manchester	29	Undergraduate	BEng Aerospace Engineering	3 Years	24,01,000
11	University of California, Los Angeles	32	Graduate	MS Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering	1.5 Years	16,30,000
12	Northwestern University	33	Graduate	MS Aerospace Engineering	1.5 Years	45,96,000
13	McGill University	34	Undergraduate	B.Eng. – Minor Aerospace Engineering	4 years	29,34,000

Along with these, here is a list of some of the major Aeronautical Engineering colleges in India:

• Indian Institute of Technology (Madras, Kharagpur & Mumbai)
• Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University
• Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh
• Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram
• Manipal Institute of Technology
• Vellore Institute of Technology
• Delhi Technological University

Eligibility Criteria

There are certain requirements you need to fulfil before opting for a degree or diploma in Aeronautical Engineering or its related fields. While the exact criteria might differ as per the course and university, the basic prerequisites for Aeronautical Engineering include,

• The candidate must have completed their 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as the core subjects.
• Some universities might conduct their own entrance exams for Aeronautical Engineering courses such as AME CET which you need to qualify to pursue a program in this field in India.
• To study these courses abroad, you will be required to provide English proficiency scores of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE etc. along with submitting an SOP and LORs.

Note: The above-mentioned eligibility requirements are only for indicative purposes and the actual criteria might vary as per the course and university.

Scholarships for Aeronautical Engineering

There are various scholarships offered to international students to study Aeronautical Engineering abroad. Some of the scholarships provided by the top institutes are given below:

University	Scholarship	Amount
The University of Sheffield	Engineering Excellence Scholarship	£1,000 each subsequent academic year
The University of Windsor	Undergraduate Entry Scholarships	Between CAD $250 – CAD $4,000 per semester
University of Portsmouth	Vice Chancellor’s Global Development Scholarship	A fee reduction of £1,600 will be applied to the first year of study
University of Leeds	The International Undergraduate Science and Engineering Scholarship	Up to £6,000 is awarded per student per year

Aeronautical Engineering: Job profiles and Salary

Here is the average salary for the top job profiles and their average salary after completing your degree in Aeronautical Engineering:

Role	Average Salary (USD)
Aerospace Engineer	122,270
Aircraft Maintenance Manager	95,982
Aircraft Design Engineer	81,505
Aircraft Instrumentation Engineer	107,830
Professor – Aviation	90,000

Aeronautical Engineering Subjects: Career Scope

Aerospace Engineering is filled with exciting career opportunities in terms of development as well as remuneration in the field of Aviation and the Airforce. Amongst the above-mentioned specialisations listed under Aeronautical Engineering subjects, you can discover the following career paths:

• Aeronautical Engineer
• Aircraft Design Engineer
• Aerospace Engineer
• Aircraft Production Engineer
• Consultant
• Researcher
• Lecturer/Professor
• Mechanical Design Engineer
• Aircraft Instrumentation Engineer
• Technical Officer
• Thermal Design Engineer
• Aerospace Design Checker

Also Read: Kickstart a Reputable Career in Airforce

FAQs

Aeronautical Engineering subjects cover a highly specialised area of Advanced Sciences which requires heavy coursework as well as substantial industry exposure. If you’re interested to build a career in Aeronautics, our experts at Leverage Edu can help you in taking the first step towards this rewarding career.