Career in Aircraft Engineering

We have always drooled over the exciting career paths offered by the field of Aviation. But did you ever wondered about those who work laboriously in designing, testing and maintaining aircraft and its related equipment? Just like the Pilot’s aeroplane in ‘Little Prince’, a poorly designed aircraft would also end up stranded in a desert with no means of escape if it hasn’t been maintained properly. Aircraft Engineering deals with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It is precisely concerned with the research, design, examination and manufacturing of aircraft. It is an ideal field for those who are passionate about Aeronautical Engineering and want to build a career in it. Through this blog, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on what Aircraft Engineering as a field comprises of as well as the major courses offered in this discipline and the career scope it entails.

Who is an Aircraft Engineer? 

Aircraft Engineers manage several tasks related to the design and maintenance of aircraft and aerospace equipment. They ensure that an aircraft which is ready to take flight is safe. They are also liable to install and manage airframes, engines, electronic and mechanical systems. Here are some other major responsibilities handled by Aircraft Engineering.

Maintainance and Upkeep: Aircraft Engineering centrally encompasses the maintenance of aircraft and its related equipment. So, as an aircraft engineer, you will be running the diagnostics for the aircraft. And if any faults are discovered, you will be required to fix them in a given time frame. Further, Aircraft Engineers are also responsible for replacing old parts and/or systems and do the record-keeping too. 

Adherence to Rules and Regulations: As you are dealing with something that revolves around the safety and security of hundreds of individuals, you can not afford to take any chances. Aircraft Engineers ensure that every aircraft is designed adhering to the security laws and regulations. Also, when flying internationally both local and international laws are to be given attention. 

Keeping your License Up-to-date: Being a part of a job that is demanding, you would be liable to manage the upkeep of your licenses unless you want to land into trouble. 

How to pursue Aeronautical Engineering?

Students who want to major in Aeronautical Engineering must have taken physics and math in school. Candidates for careers in the aerospace and aviation industries are prepared through aeronautics courses. The majority of the time, undergraduate or graduate degree programmes include courses in these subjects. There are undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral courses in aviation accessible. As they gain practical expertise in aircraft manufacture, mechanics, and engineering, these courses aid candidates in becoming air traffic controllers and maintenance technicians. Being a technical specialty, aeronautical engineering calls for professionals with keen observation and powerful mathematical abilities.

Key Skills  

If you are aspiring to pursue Aircraft Engineering as a career, it is important to start working on the essential skills that are extremely useful in this field. This way you can make your preparation airtight and you would have an upper hand over individuals who are making a last-minute decision. Below mentioned are the major skills you should have to become a successful aircraft engineer:

Quick and Analytical thinking: Flights have a rigorous schedule and there is a limited amount of time available for you to do a comprehensive check and root out the anomalies. So, quick thinking skills are a necessity. 

Maintain Composure under Strenuous Circumstances: Sometimes, things may get out of control while working on the designing of aircraft. So, the best way to access all of your knowledge and training in the time of need is to retain your peace of mind and composure.  

Being on the go: A lot of tasks would need to be done a limited time-frame, so, you would be on-the-go for a major part of your day. Hence, handling your time effectively and prioritising tasks is a critical skills you will require. 

Courses in Aircraft Engineering

Programs in Aircraft Engineering are designed to provide students with the structure and design of various aircraft like Aeroplanes, helicopters, airships (blimps), spaceships, etc. People with a mechanical engineering background can also look forward to work in this field. With a degree in this course, you would be equipped to handle troubleshooting, repair issues in the aircraft. Here is a table listing down the different programs in Aircraft Engineering ranging from diploma courses to doctoral degrees.

Level of Education	Courses Offered in Aircraft Engineering
Diploma-Level Courses	Diploma of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering – Mechanical TBI  Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Rating) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Applications Certificate
Bachelor’s Degrees	BEng (Hons) Avionic Systems with a Year in Industry  Ontario College Certificate in Flight Services  Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management and Operations  BSc (Hons) Air Transport Management
Master’s Degrees	Master of Business Administration in Aviation Management  Master of Science in Aviation (Airport Development and Management)
Doctoral Degrees	Doctor of Philosophy in Aviation  Doctor of Philosophy in Aviation Business Administration

Aeronautical Engineering Requirements

A PG programme typically costs around Rs 2 Lakh per year, while an undergraduate programme typically costs around Rs 1 Lakh. A diploma in aeronautics typically costs between Rs 60,000 and Rs 100,000 each year. Candidates that are interested in studying aeronautical engineering must meet the following requirements:

• Many engineering institutes ask for JEE Main and JEE Advanced scores are required for admission to the programme for aeronautical engineers.
• Minimum aggregate PCM scores of 70–75% are required for aeronautical engineering as the primary eligibility requirement.
• Engineering diploma holders in aviation maintenance can get degrees by passing the Aeronautical Society of India exams.
• The candidate must have earned a Bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering in order to be admitted to postgraduate and doctoral programmes.
• Many institutions, including IITs and IISc, as well as science research institutions, accept GATE scores for admission to the discipline of master’s degrees.

Subjects taught in Aeronautical Engineering

Mathematics	Flight Dynamics
Engineering Physics	Aircraft Structures
Engineering Chemistry	Control Engineering
Computer Programming	Environmental Science and Engineering
Engineering Graphics	Aircraft Structures Laboratory
Computer Practices Laboratory	Communication and Soft Skills- Laboratory Based
Engineering Practices Laboratory	Principles of Management
Physics and Chemistry Laboratory	Finite Element Methods
Transforms and Partial Differential Equations	Vibrations and Elements of Aeroelasticity
Manufacturing Technology	Composite Materials and Structures
Aero Engineering Thermodynamics	Aircraft Materials and Processes
Fluid Mechanics and Machinery	Aero Engine and Airframe
Solid Mechanics	Aircraft Design Project
Elements of Aeronautics	Computer Aided Simulation
Strength of Materials Laboratory	Total Quality Management
Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Laboratory	Avionics
Thermodynamics Laboratory	Computational Fluid Dynamics
CAM and Manufacturing Laboratory	Experimental Stress Analysis
Numerical Methods	Aircraft Design Project
Aerodynamics	Aircraft Systems Laboratory
Aircraft Systems and Instruments	Flight Integration Systems and Control Laboratory
Mechanics of Machines	Wind Tunnel Techniques
Aircraft Structures	Propulsion
Aircraft Structures Laboratory	Aerodynamics Laboratory
CAD and Aircraft Component Drawing

Career Scope

Finding a job in the aviation industry is never going to be arduous. The graph of scope in this sector is only going to go upwards with a massive increase in the number of jobs in the upcoming years. Apart from being a demanding field with an emphasis on perfection and precision, Aircraft Engineering is equally rewarding too. The ambit of jobs also varies based on your experience and qualifications. Further, it is a high paying job if we compare it to other sectors and is also well-respected and extremely admired.

Aeronautical Engineers: These professionals receive training in the creation of aeroplanes. Designing aircraft and propulsion systems is their primary responsibility, and they also research the aerodynamic properties of building materials and aeroplanes.

The field of work is split up into many profiles and specialised jobs:

Mechanical engineers that specialise in aeronautics: These professionals are in charge of maintaining aircraft engines. The engines and airframes are maintained, and if necessary, overhauled.

Engineers in aeronautical electronics are employed to maintain the electrical and electronic devices used in radio communication, radar, and other aeronautical applications.

Flight engineers: Flight engineers are in charge of ensuring that the aircraft operates smoothly while in flight. A battle engineer’s responsibilities include managing repairs, monitoring system failure, and performing pre-flight checks. Report the defect and monitor the remedial action. At times, they are also in charge of refueling.

Other duties include doing routine maintenance tasks and keeping a record of them, responding to flight-related issues during takeoff and landing, and performing repairs. They are also in charge of keeping a worksheet that details all maintenance, repair, and upkeep procedures.

FAQs

Hence, we hope that this blog helped you understand the vast field of Aircraft Engineering and the varied range of career prospects it offers. If you are planning to pursue this field, take the help of Leverage Edu‘s AI tool to browse through an array of courses in Aerospace Engineering and find the right one that matches your inclinations and career ambitions.