Aeronautical Engineer

Job Profile

Aerospace Engineering is a board branch of research that deals with the study of aircraft and spacecraft and their production. In India and a lot of other countries, it is still a growing market. Yet India offers good potential in the field of aerospace engineering, as a booming sector one can opt to be a scientist or technician. Scientists usually work in any of the three places – manufacturing research and development, private and government labs and educational research. Even Engineers can select from different roles such as manufacturing, flight analysis, materials and processes, construction, etc. A person also has the option of joining an organization of Indian space research or NASA. In addition to NASA and ISRO, various public and private airlines, India’s Helicopter Corporation, Aircraft companies, military and defence departments, aeronautical companies, space equipment, and aircraft design organizations hire aviation engineers.

Aeronautical electronics engineers specialize in instrument maintenance, electrical and electronic equipment, navigation, radar communications, and radio communication. At airports, engineers perform routine maintenance on the ground during an aircraft overhaul. They respond to reports from aircrew of any difficulties experienced during flights, and carry out repairs and corrections and also perform aircraft maintenance and overhaul in hangers and workshops when an aircraft is due for regular inspection and checks.

Salary/Package

The average salary of an Aeronautical Engineer is Rs 6 lakh or more. With experience, the earning grows manifold. It can go as high as Rs 45 – 49 lakh per annum. The salaries may vary based on experience, skills, roles, location, etc.

Skills required

• Professional monitoring and strong calculative skills
• Physical Fitness
• Leadership skills
• Strong sense of responsibility
• Presence of Mind
• Energetic
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Normal Colour Vision
• Technical and Mechanical expertise
• Quick and Accurate
• Passionate for flying machines

Pros and Cons of being an Aeronautical Engineer

Pros

• This job is very rewarding in terms of remuneration and earnings.
• This field can open doors to international exposure pretty early in the career.
• The future aspects that is bright and promising.

Cons

• The job can be very stressful and physically demanding.
• The job will demand travelling and following extreme work hours to meet urgent Aeronautical requirements.
• This profession needs extensive skill, technical knowledge and sufficient practical experience for growth.

How do I become one

Quite a few engineering colleges in India offer Aeronautical Engineering. The primary eligibility criteria for Aeronautical Engineering are a minimum of 75 % (65% for SC/ST) per cent marks in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics in Class XII.

Aeronautical Engineers’ admission criteria for the IITs are JEE Main and JEE Advanced score. Some of the Universities conduct separate entrance tests for admission for the aeronautical branch. Below are a few of the entrances/competitive exams that students can prepare and score good marks for admissions into top colleges.

• JEE (Joint Entrance Exam) conducted by the IITs
• All India Engineering/ Architecture Entrance Examination (AIEEE)
• Delhi University Combined Entrance Examination (CEE)
• Hindustan University Entrance Test (HITSEE)
• The Indian Institute of Aeronautics Entrance Exam (IIA)
• SLIET Entrance Test (SET)

Those looking for Postgraduate courses, IITs/IISc conduct a National Level Entrance Test Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) for admission to postgraduate and doctoral programs in institutions under MHRD such as IITs/IISc.