AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING LIFE
If
you have ever harboured
dreams of conquering
the space in
a flying machine or
becoming a top-notch
pilot, Aeronautical
Engineering may be
just the right
career path for
you. The main
thrust in this
area is on
design and development
extending to space
and satellite research.
This is one
of the Technologically advanced
branches of Engineering.
So, in this modern world
Aeronautical Engineering course
has become the
coveted goal for
many young souls.
History of Aeronautical Engineering
The history
of Aeronautical Engineering began at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology in 1896
when Albert Jewells, class of
1896[Mechanical Engineering], designed
and built a small wind
tunnel as part
of his thesis.
By 1910, interest in Aeronautical Engineering had become popular. Until
1926, Aeronautical Engineering was a graduate course only. In 1913 the
Executive Committee provided money for a new wind tunnel and Jerome C. Husker
was hired to teach Aeronautical Engineering in the Department of Naval
Architecture. In 1920 administrative control of Aeronautical Engineering was
transferred to the Department of Physics. In 1926 course 16, Aeronautical
Engineering, was created offering undergraduate courses for the first time. In
1933 Husker became head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and
administrative control of course 16 was transferred to Mechanical Engineering
from the Department of Physics. A separate Department of Aeronautical
Engineering was established in 1939, with Husker as the first head of the
Department. In the same year the Wright Brothers wind tunnel began operation.
After world war-2 the beginning of space exploration brought further changes to
the Department. In 1959 the name was changed to Aeronautics and Astronautics.
The centre for Space Research opened in 1963 and was joined the following year
by the Experimental Astronomy Laboratory and the space propulsion and
man-vehicle Laboratories.
Courses in Aeronautical Engineering
Courses offered are
1]
B.E [Bachelor of Engineering]
2]
B .Tech [Bachelor of Technology]
3]
Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering.
4] Post-Graduate Degree in Aeronautical
Engineering.
The curriculum at B. Tech/B.E level covers fundamentals of
propulsion electronics, autonomic control guidance, Theory of Aerodynamics,
structural analysis, material science and Fluid dynamics. One can also acquire
a diploma in Aeronautical Engineering. While most of the reputed Engineering
colleges and the Indian Institute of Technology’s [IIT] in India offer degree
and post-graduate degree courses in Aeronautical Engineering. For enrolment in
a B.E or B. Tech course in Aeronautical Engineering, candidates must pass the
higher secondary Examinations with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as
compulsory subjects along with a good aggregate percentage. It is also
mandatory to qualify in the Joint Entrance Examinations [J.E.E] which the IIT’s
conduct in January and May every year. Besides the IIT’s there are some
institutes which have their own entrance tests and other examinations conducted
across states or on an all-India basis.
Aeronautical
Engineering curriculum covers the following major topics
1] Mathematics.
2]
Fluids and Solids.
3]
Thermodynamics.
4]
Avionics.
5]
Aerodynamics.
6] Control system.
2] Fluids and Solids.
3] Thermodynamics.
4] Avionics.
5] Aerodynamics.
6] Control system.
Eligibility Criteria for Aeronautical Engineering
To be an Aeronautical Engineer one should have a graduate
degree [B.E / B. Tech] or at least a Diploma in Aeronautics. There is also the
Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers [AMIE] conducted
by ASI [The Aeronautics Society of India].It enables people working in the
private and public sector to acquire a Bachelor’s Engineering degree which is
equivalent to Aeronautical Engineering degree. Some Institutes offer post
graduate [M. Tech] and Doctoral [PhD] programmes in Aeronautics. For M. Tech
programme in Aeronautical Engineering one should have completed degree in
[B.E/B. Tech] Aeronautics or any other equivalent branches of Engineering. The
students personal skills include be a good communicator and crisis manager
besides being healthy and fit. A student who does not have a sharp eye sight
and is colour blind may not qualify to become an Aeronautical Engineer even
though he may be Academically Brilliant. Students age lies between 18 to 28
years and below the age of 25 years should be unmarried.
Job Opportunities for Aeronautical Engineer
Aeronautical Engineers work majorly involves design and
development of Aircraft parts, Testing New Aerodynamic and Aviation systems,
Quality management and Improvement maintenance. Aeronautical Engineering
students Job opportunities in India lies with various Air lines like Air India,
Indian Air lines, Helicopter corporation of India and Flying clubs. There is
also both private and Government organizations like
1] Indian Space Research Organization [ISRO].
2] Defence Research and Development Organizations [DRDO].
3] Defence ministry.
4] Civil Aviation Department.
5] National Aeronautical Laboratory.
The Top most Aircraft manufactures like Hindustan Aeronautics
Ltd [HAL] with its factories at Bangalore, Nasik, Karafuto, and Kanpur.
Institutes of Aeronautical Engineering
Top most Aeronautical Institutes in India are
Indian Institute of Technology [IIT],
Kanpur,http://www.iitk.ac.in/
Indian Institute of Technology [IIT], Mumbai,,http://www.iitb.ac.in/departments.html
Indian Institute of Technology [IIT], Mumbai,,http://www.iitb.ac.in/departments.html
Bangalore Institute of Aeronautical Engineering and Information Technology, Bangalore,
Indian Institute of Technology [IIT], Delhi,
Indian Institute of Aeronautics, Patna
Indian Institute of Technology [IIT], Chennai,http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/
Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology, Chennai,http://www.hiet.in/
