Did you know? If the aviation industry were a country, its GDP would be at 17th place worldwide. Air transport is a vital part of the world, and for this reason, it is a $3.5 trillion industry today. What’s more? It is expected to be over $6 trillion by 2040.
Granted, the coronavirus has put a temporary restriction on flights and international travelling, however, the bans have slowly been lifting in an attempt to adjust to the new normal and thousands of flights are already in the air!
The aviation market is one that will always be on the rise, come coronavirus or anything else. Did you know? This industry supports 87.7 million jobs currently, and this number might go up to 140 million within the next two decades. But aviation isn’t all that we’re talking about today, our agenda has aerospace. Wondering what the difference is? Aerospace is a broader bucket, so it includes everything aeronautical and, you guessed it, space science. If your dream is to be a pilot, flight designer or to work at NASA or ISRO, then this is the path for you. And, there is no better way to become one than through a dedicated aerospace engineering degree.
Aerospace engineering is a program that deals with aircraft, their design, maintenance, production, and other related systems like rockets, missiles and even entire space shuttles. There are two broad disciplines in aerospace engineering; the regular Aeronautical segment that deals with aircraft on the Earth. And additionally, there is an Astronautical component that is about aircraft that operate outside the Earth, like rockets or space shuttles. Now, what exactly do aerospace engineers do?
Design: Aerospace engineers hold the pens behind the world’s most advanced aircraft and spacecraft plans. As a designer you will develop new technologies and design various components of aerospace systems. You might also be part of the testing and assembly team.
Technician: This is a job for aerospace engineers who have a knack for mechanics. Here you will be in charge of the construction, manufacturing, maintenance, and operation of aero-systems. These are the people who actually build planes, missiles, and highly advanced rockets we see and use today.
Pilot: If flying an aircraft or being part of a spacecraft crew is your dream job, then an aerospace engineering degree is the first step on your path. Since the competition is fierce, you must be an expert on the subject to make it.
Apart from these 3 widely sought out jobs, there are many more roles that you can take up if your interest lies in a specific subject like thermal control, dynamics, orbital mechanics, telecommunication, etc. But before we get to how you can become an aerospace engineer, lets first look at some of the benefits you have as one.
Growing Industry: We’ve seen the numbers. With technology and globalization driving innovation, aerospace is one such industry that won’t just disappear. In fact, it will be more relevant in the future than ever.
Demand: Aerospace is considered to be one of the harder disciplines of engineering, and if you manage to be among the few that ace it, the world is your oyster. There are tons of jobs available in both the public and private sectors. And as the industry grows, so does the demand.
Salary: This is undoubtedly a challenging profession, and that is why aerospace engineering salaries are among the highest of all engineering disciplines. Also, your value grows exponentially as you gain experience in this field.
Travel: This is an added boon to jobs in the aero industry. Whether you’re a pilot whose job is taking people places, or you’re attending global research conventions, you get chances to travel (a lot) and often for absolutely zero cost.
Now, let us take a look at how you can become this kind of engineer! The best way to go about it is by pursuing a bachelors in aerospace engineering. You could also choose to do a mechanical or electrical degree and pursue a specialized masters in aerospace engineering later. This is great if you’re into technical jobs or are interested majorly in the space sciences. However, a bachelors of aeronautical engineering is a faster and more effective way to head into this field if you’re interested in aeroplanes and missiles, it’s certainly more challenging though, so choose wisely.
There are many aerospace engineering colleges in India and abroad offering a wide array of majors. While most of them have a combination of both aero and astro components, some offer specialized programs in each. Moreover, a couple of aerospace engineering universities even offer flight training if your goal is to be a pilot.
Here are 5 of the best colleges for aerospace engineering from around the world!
Aerospace is undoubtedly one of the coolest subjects of the 21st century. And although current trends have slowed down progress, it’s inevitable that this industry will bounce back up. So, if you’ve decided to go for it, and want some advice on aerospace engineering colleges, their eligibility or scholarships, we’re happy to help. Schedule a 15-minute free counseling session today!