A thought to be one of the most challenging fields of engineering, aeronautical engineering offers promising career options for thousands of aspirants in India. The following post explores the field of aeronautical engineering and career options offered by the field.
Aeronautical Engineering – an Overview
Derivative from two Greek words aer meaning air and nautike implying navigation, aeronautics purely refers to the navigation of the scientific field that encompasses studying, designing, and manufacturing of aircraft and rocketry within the limits of the atmosphere. Since its foundation, the field of aeronautical engineering has expanded and now encompasses business, technology and other features associated with aircraft and others.
While the origins of aeronautics engineering or aerospace engineering can be traced back to ancient Egypt and also in the Greek mythologies, in the myth of Icarus and Daedalus. However, actual research intensified only from the sixteenth century and by the early years of 20th century, with the achievement of the Wright Brothers, the scope of aeronautical engineering consolidated its hold.
Job of an Aeronautical Engineer
Today, aeronautics engineering is a rapidly growing field in a country like India. Considered as one of the most challenging segments of engineering, career opportunities in aeronautical engineering are ample in India. The actual job of an aeronautical engineer demands technical, manual and solid mechanical aptitude. Aeronautical engineers usually work in teams along with fellow engineers, bringing in their skills and all other required technical expertise. While they are highly paid, their job is equally demanding. Physical fitness along with immense dedication is required in order to succeed in the field. High level of mathematical precision, eye for detail and extreme alertness is highly required for an aeronautical engineer to succeed in his or her field. Just like any other fields of engineering, aeronautical engineers also end up specializing in a host of segments spanning across a wide range. These include structural designing, instrumentation, navigational guidance, control systems, and communication and production methods. Those who have an adventurous bent of mind can move ahead with functions like manufacturing rockets and helicopters. They can also choose to work in the areas of maintenance and development.
Colleges and Career Options in India
Several engineering colleges in India offer ample options in the field of aeronautical engineering. Colleges offer Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) or Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech). Admission procedures are more or less the same. Candidates need to clear entrance examinations such as IIT-JEE and others. List of top aeronautical engineering colleges offering a degree in the field include the following:
- IIT Madras
- IIT Kanpur
- IIT Mumbai
- IIT Kharagpur
- Bengal Engineering and Science University, Howrah, West Bengal
- Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
- Indian Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Dehradun
- Indian Institute of Aeronautics, Patna
- Delhi Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, New Delhi
A rapidly increasing and expanding economy, India boasts of a strong aviation industry. Needless to say that, aeronautics engineers have ample options in career options; for them probably even the skies are not the limits. Both the private and the public sector offer employment options for thousands of aeronautics engineers. Renowned enterprises such as Indian Air Force, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Defense Research and Development Laboratories (DRDO) Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL), and National Aeronautical Lab (NAL) are some of the best places to work for. Not only the kind of job offered is challenging, but also highly paid. Some more career options can be explored are – government departments like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department for Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Salary offered to aeronautical engineers span from INR 2 lakhs to INR 30 lakhs per annum. While the salary levels at starting level can be a little low, with time and experience, it rises at a rapid rate. Among top cities, Delhi and Mumbai happen to be the best destinations to find the appropriate job opportunities in aeronautical engineering, Salaries offered here are the best along with growth in professional career.
According to some latest reports, the aviation industry in India would require more than 1500 aircraft in the next one and a half decade, for both – long and short-haul flights. It goes without saying that prospects for aeronautical engineers are a galore in this country. The Indian aviation industry has estimated that the airline companies are all set to raise the benchmark for the number of aircrafts. Therefore it goes without saying that demands for aeronautics engineers would be quite high in the coming months and job options would be ample for many aspiring aeronautical engineers.
As a field, aeronautical engineering is extremely important in the present world scenario. Over the past one century, pioneers in this field have come up with path breaking inventions that have revolutionized the world. Opportunities in research and development are also there for those who want to pursue intensive researches in this field.
Engineers work as part of a team that maintains the aircrafts and ensures high level of technical precision main thrust of the engineering professional lies in design, development, maintenance & teaching of aeronautics.