Plan your career: Aerospace Engineering

Introduction:
Aerospace engineering is an interesting, ever evolving and high technology engineering branch. Students interested in learning about missiles, satellites and aircrafts can opt for Aerospace Engineering. Aerospace Engineering deals with the development of new technology in the field of aviation, space and defense systems. This discipline specializes in designing, construction, development, testing and maintenance of commercial and military aircrafts and spacecrafts. The main Focus areas of Aerospace Engineering are as follows:

• Flight vehicles and systems
• Space flight (spacecraft, rockets, satellites, etc.)
• Sub-space flight (airplanes, helicopters, missiles, etc.)
• Aerodynamics (designing external surfaces)

Astronautical Engineering (focusing just on space flight) and Aeronautical Engineering (focusing just on sub-space flight) are the fields related to the Aerospace Engineering.

Courses Available:
Undergraduate:
To pursue an undergraduate course in aerospace engineering, the candidate must pass 10+2 with physics, chemistry and mathematics from a recognized Board.

• Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering (B.E.)
• Bachelor of Technology in Aerospace Engineering (B.Tech.)

Post Graduate:
To pursue a postgraduate course in aerospace engineering, the candidate must have Bachelor’s (B.E. or B.Tech.) degree in automobile engineering from recognized University.

• Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering (M.E.)
• Master of Technology in Aerospace Engineering (M.Tech.)

Specializations:

1. Aerodynamics (design of external surfaces)
2. Structural Design & Materials Selection
3. Propulsion Systems
4. Guidance & Control Systems

Job Opportunities:
Aerospace Engineers are generally appointed as:

• Consultants
• Thermal Design Engineers
• Mechanical Design Engineers
• Aerospace Technologist
• Aircraft Production Manager
• Assistant Technical Officers
• Aerospace Design Checker
• Graduate Engineer Trainees

An Aerospace Engineer can work in private or public companies. The degree holders are acquired by many big firms both in India and abroad. Job opportunities for these engineers are available in Airlines, Air Force, Corporate Research Companies, Defense Ministry, Helicopter Companies, Aviation Companies, NASA and many others. Some of the top recruiters in this space are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Defense Research and Development Laboratories (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Civil Aviation Department, Air India, India Space Research Organization (ISRO) etc. The average salary of an Aerospace Engineer is INR 25,000 to INR 35,000 per month.

Top Colleges:

1. IIT Bombay
2. IIT Kanpur
3. IIT Kharagpur
4. IIT Madras
5. Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
6. Indian Institute of Science
7. University of Petroleum and Energy Studies
8. PEC University of Technology    
9. Hindustan University
10. Amrita University