The global aerospace and defense industry is experiencing stronger growth. This exponential rise in demand is likely to grow further at the speed of light and make a very strong base for the sector in the coming times. Owing to this growth and budding opportunities in the sector, a large number of students, right after class 12th, are choosing aeromechanics stream to make a career in aerospace and defense industry.

Are you also dreaming for a bright career in aeronautics? But, you are not sure where to even start like millions of other young aspirants, who are having a really tough time. Here are some useful tips on selecting the right path that will open the doors to an exciting career as an aerospace engineer. These 5 W’s and 1 H will surely make you breathe a sigh of relief.

1. What: A brief overview about Aerospace Engineering?

Aerospace Engineering is a very popular (yet modified) branch of engineering. This branch of study primarily deals with the design, development, testing and manufacturing of aircrafts. Having originated in the 19th century, Aerospace Engineering is counted amongst one of the newest branches of engineering and further divided into two specializations.

  • Aeronautical engineering, which mainly involves designing and maintenance of aircraft such as powered lighter-than-air craft, gliders, fixed-wing airplanes and jets, autogyros, and helicopters.
  • Astronautical engineering, which majorly deals in the design and development of spacecrafts.

2. Why: Opting the higher studies in Aerospace Engineering over other specializations

Higher studies in Aerospace Engineering offers a promising career. Close to rocket science, the course structure helps the students to understand the many different subfields in aeronautical engineering besides the research and development, testing, and maintenance of aircraft/missiles and their parts. It nurtures the students as the professional aeronautical engineers and makes them well-versed with the use of many different elements related to math, electronics, software design, risk analysis, aerodynamics and more. The course curriculum mainly includes the subjects like Introduction to Electrical and Electronics Circuits, Engineering Design, Solid Mechanics, Introduction to Numerical Analysis, Thermodynamics, Thermal Energy, Communication Systems Engineering, Aerospace Structural Mechanics, Aerospace Structure Computing, Flight Vehicle control, Solid Mechanics Calculus and more.

3. Which: The Best Aerospace Engineering Courses in India

All those students who wish to make their career in the aviation industry can opt for aeronautical engineering or study aircraft maintenance engineering (AME). For both, there are various degree programmes available at the B.Tech and M.Tech levels.

  • B.Tech: A bachelor of engineering in Aerospace Engineering is four-year programme at undergraduate level. It mainly deals with the design and manufacturing of aircraft. The course structure educates the students about the right application of engineering principles and technical know-how to design, construct and operate an aircraft.
  • M.Tech: After completion of bachelor’s degree, you can opt for a Master of Technology in Aerospace Engineering is two-year programme, which is divided into 4 semesters and the course structure majorly focuses on dynamics of Aerospace System Modeling, Orbital Mechanics, Navigation/Guidance/Control for Aerospace Vehicle, Spacecraft Dynamics and Control as well as Light Mechanics.
  • Integrated course: The five-year integrated course is also gaining huge popularity nowadays. This programme aims at making the students industry-ready by letting them cover B.Tech & M.Tech under one academic course.
  • Short-term certification: There are many top engineering colleges in India that offer many short-term certification courses like Aircraft Electrical and Instrument Systems, Repair and Maintenance of Composite Aircraft Structures, Airframe Maintenance Procedures, Aero Engine Maintenance and Overhauling, Fuel and Lubrication Management and TQM in Aviation Industry. There are many short-term software courses in Pro-E Wildfire, Catia and Ansys, are also available, which are quite useful for aeronautical engineers. Such programmes give a boost to your career in a particular field and enable you to get higher salary package.

4. Who: Get to know the eligibility criteria

The students should have passed the class 12th with minimum 50 percent marks in aggregate in physics, chemistry and mathematics. Also, the students with a three-year diploma course in any branch of engineering are eligible for a degree course in Aerospace Engineering. B.Sc. degree holders with mathematics, physics and chemistry as their subjects are also eligible to apply. Generally, the admissions in B.Tech, M.Tech and integrated courses are entirely based on different entrance tests according to the eligibility criteria of different colleges. Such tests are strategically designed to check the comprehension and analytical ability of the candidates.

5. Where: Will I be after finishing a degree in Aerospace Engineering?

The global commercial aerospace sub-sector is likely to experience a huge rise. Hence, a strong demand for skilled aerospace engineers is expected, particularly in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions. Also, there is a major aircraft manufacturer Boeing which has indicated that production rate will increase from 42 per month to 52 per month in 2018. With such expected growth, the industry is attracting the young aspirants with big dreams in their eyes.

As a flourishing sector in India, the aerospace industry is offering a gamut of wonderful job opportunities for specialized engineers in both public and private sectors. As an aerospace engineer, one has to be professionally qualified in aerodynamics fluids, flight mechanics, propulsion, electrical and electronic equipment and navigation, operations research, aerospace management. The maintenance of instruments, radar and radio communication devices related to aviation, mechanical design and manufacturing science as well as space dynamics also comes under the job profile of an aerospace engineer.

Graduates with a degree in Aerospace engineering are qualified to get employed in Airlines, Air Force, Corporate Research Companies, Defence Ministry, Helicopter Companies, Aviation Companies, NASA and many others. The list of top recruiters, who are connecting the dots in the world of aerospace, are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Defense Research and Development Laboratories (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Civil Aviation Department, Air India, and India Space Research Organization (ISRO).

6. How: to become an aerospace engineer without a B.Tech degree?

There is an alternative route to higher studies in Aerospace Engineering. Any student aspiring for a bright career in the aviation industry, without a degree, can enroll for section A of the examinations conducted by the Associate Membership of Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI), New Delhi. The qualification is equivalent to B.Tech or BE in aeronautical engineering. Any student with minimum 50 percent marks after class 12th in physics, chemistry and mathematic, is eligible to appear in the exams. After a successful completion of section A exams, one must opt for Section B examination.

Final Words

As per the emerging trends, it has been seen that Aerospace Engineering has become one of the promising career choices among young engineering aspirants. There are a number of candidates who are opting for the 5-year integrated degree programmes right after Class 12. It definitely helps them to establish as an aerospace engineer in the industry with handsome financial gains and social and professional recognition at the entry level.