AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Aeronautical Engineering is the development of new technology in the field of aviation, space exploration and defence systems. It specializes in the designing, construction, development, testing, operation and maintenance of both commercial, military aircraft and spacecrafts, their components as well as satellites and missiles. The specializations consists of areas like structural design, navigational guidance , control systems, instrumentation and communication or production methods or it can be in a particular product such as military aircrafts, passenger planes, helicopters, satellites, rockets, etc. Aeronautical Engineering is one of the most challenging fields of engineering with a wide scope for growth.




Aeronautical Engineers work as part of a very organized and highly efficient team and, particularly during turnarounds; they work often at great speed and under great pressure. Work is normally carried out under supervision of senior engineers. It is also suited for other non-conventional fields such as air turbine production plants or design development programmes for the aviation industry.

Team of engineers carry out routine maintenance on the ground during aircraft overhauling at airports and respond to reports from air crew of any difficulties experienced during flights, repairing and making corrections. They also do maintenance and overhaul of aircraft in hangers and workshops when an aircraft is due for its regular inspection and checks. The work requires use of hand and power tools for replacement of parts, checking of tyres, brakes, instruments, wheel flaps, etc - any parts affecting the safety of the aircraft and also safety equipment. They complete worksheets for checks made and these are certified by themselves if they are licensed to do so, or by a qualified supervisor.



Qualifications
10 + 2 Science with high percentage of marks in Science subjects and qualifying exam (JEE). To be an aeronautical engineer one should be a BE/B.Tech in Aeronautics. The Madras Institute of Technology offers a year postgraduate programme in aeronautical engineering for B.Sc. students.

One can also study M.Tech. and do Ph.D. in aeronautics from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Those who have passed the Associate membership exam conducted by ASI (Aeronautical Society of India), which is at par with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, can also become aeronautical engineers. It is possible to take a degree in electronics or physics to work in this field and leave more options open.



The Indian aeronautical industry is not only concentrating on military aircraft production, but also has dedicated facilities for civil aircraft manufacture and maintenance. The aerospace industry today contributes substantially to India's economic growth. For the past 16 years, India has witnessed more engineering and R & D investments in aerospace than the US or Europe. As per the Nasscom-Booz Allen Hamilton report, there will be a $40 billion opportunity for the offshore engineering industry worldwide by 2020. India is expected to have a 2 - 3 per cent share in the aerospace off shored engineering service. This amounted to $1.2 billion in 2010

Growth in the aerospace industry has made a number of automobile manufacturers to exploit forward and backward linkages with the aerospace industry. India is also equipped to become a hub for maintenance, repair and overhauling (MRO). The MRO market in India was valued at $970 million in 2008, and can absorb massive investments.



The opportunities are infinite for an Aerospace Engineer. Aerospace engineers can be employed with government organizations like DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization), HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), NAL (National Aeronautical Laboratories), ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization). There are many more companies in India who recruit Aerospace Engineers. Few of them are Airbus, General Electric (GE), Infotech, Capgemini, Saffron Aerospace, and many more.



For an Aeronautical Engineer, jobs are available with the national, international, public and private Airline Services, aircraft-manufacturing units, Defence services and research and development organizations. In the Indian context the Defense service particularly the Air Forces and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) happen to be two major employment providers for Aeronautical Engineers. Aeronautical Engineers often get opportunities in organizations such as Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd (HAL), Defense Research and Development Laboratories (DRDO), National Aeronautical Lab (NAL), Aeronautical Development Establishment.

Employment opportunities can also be found in Civil Aviation sectors. Here they are absorbed by public sector airlines like Indian Airlines and Air India. However the most lucrative jobs are available in private sector airlines like Kingfisher and Jet Airways, etc., because they offer better pay packets. There are even opportunities in countries like United States of America, France, UK and Germany. A good percentage of Indians constitute the work force of engineers and technical professionals in NASA.

In Bangalore, Honeywell Technology Solutions has set up an engineering facility with over 5,500 engineers, while GE's Jack Welch Technology Centre has an extensive research lab with over 3,000 engineers. Airbus is setting up an Airbus Engineering Center, India (AECI) facility, which will hire 200-plus engineers of its own, and more than 2,000 through its partners.

Indian aerospace companies are growing too. HAL was ranked 40th in Flight International's list of the top 100 aerospace companies lately. And the growth of the aerospace industry has led to the opening up of spin-off opportunities in other sectors. Offshore engineering services, for one, have seen a spurt in growth.



Aeronautical Engineering offers good remuneration and prestigious career options. Although salary of most of the Aeronautical Engineers depends on academic excellence and skill of the individual person, the average start up salary in this field ranges from 1.5 lakh to 3.0 lakh per annum. A highly skilled and experienced Aeronautical Engineer may get a salary of Rs 40,000-1.25 lakh per month. Generally the salary and perks are better in private sector than in government sector like various fringe benefits to their employees. The approximate starting salaries in the government or public sectors such as HAL, NAL, are Rs. 8,000 to Rs.10, 000.

Those working in research organizations like ISRO and DRDO are getting Rs. 12000 to Rs 18000 per month. Engineering graduates with management degrees get a starting salary of Rs.10, 000 to Rs.40, 000 per month plus perks.



The duration is four years, ending with a degree recognised by the ministry of education, Government of India. The diploma courses are of 2-3 years duration.

Aeronautical Engineering Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kasthurba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 1 Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Mumbai 400076 (Maharashtra) Indian Institute of Technology Chennai 600036 (Tamil Nadu) Madras Institute of Technology Chennai 600044 (Tamil Nadu) Hindustan Inst of Engineering Technology, 40 GST at Thomas Mount, Chennai 600016 (Tamil Nadu) Nehru College of Aeronautical and Applied Sciences Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) School of Aviation Science and Technology nearing to Delhi Flying Club, Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh 160011 IIT, Kanpur Indian Institute of Aeronautics Patna Airport, Patna. Institute of Aviation Technology, 1265, Sector 6, Bahadurgarh, Haryana 124507 VSM Aerospace, Chelekere Village (Near Kammanahalli), Bangalore 560008 (Karnataka) Hindustan Electronics Academy, 61, Cambridge Road, P.B.No.806, Ulsoor, Bangalore 560008 (Karnataka) Indian Institute of Aeronautical Engineering Kalidas Road, Dehradun 248001 (Uttaranchal)

The field of Aeronautical engineering is technically demanding and challenging. Along with strong mathematical base, students should also have a creative and analytical mind. Students are also required to be physically fit, especially who opt to work for the defence sector. Aeronautical engineers should have an eye for detail and be good at problem-solving. They need mathematical precision and design skills, computer skills, and the ability to communicate well. They also need good planning ability and a knack for working under pressure. An aeronautical engineer needs to be physically fit and may need to work at great speed especially in checking and maintenance of aircrafts during turnarounds. They must have a normal colour vision.