Page 12 - Mousumi: Unbelievable Transformation

Aerospace Engineers design spacecraft, aircraft, missiles and defence systems.
Besides, they are also responsible for assembling, maintaining and ensuring the
function of the same at all times. One can also get specialized in specific
equipment such as air guidance systems, guidance control systems and
propulsions. Besides this, an aerospace engineer also determines the quality
standard acceptance criteria for design methods, quality standards, sustainment
after delivery, and completion dates. An aerospace engineer can further take up
specialized areas of functioning such as software engineering, structural
engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, for
automation and guidance purposes, aerodynamics or propulsion systems.
It is an evolving field, which is continuously adopting new technology for the
development in production and functioning of aircraft and spacecraft. Earlier the
aerospace sector was dominated by government organizations, but with the entry
of private players, opportunities in the aerospace industry are on a boom. Major
employers of Aerospace Engineers in India are Indian Space Research
Organizations (ISRO), Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL), National
Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO), Airbus, Boeing, Goodrich, GE aviation- to name a few.
Educational institutions offering courses in aerospace engineering include IIT
Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, BIT Mesra etc. Out of these
IIT Bombay is the best college in the country for studying aerospace engineering
with a fulltime fee of 8.55 lakhs rupees to be paid over four years. Their faculty is
the most experienced and knowledgeable in the country. Many staff members
even have working experience in ISRO. The campus is located in the Powai and
offers excellent theoretical and practical training to students aspiring to become
aerospace engineers. Different degree courses offered to students interested in
aerospace engineering include B.E. (Bachelor of Engineer), B. Tech (Bachelor of
Technology), M.Tech (Master of Technology), MSc.(Master of Science) and Ph
D (Doctorate of Philosophy).
Aerospace is an evergreen field, and demand is always more than the supply.
Therefore, aerospace graduates are usually offered a handsome salary along with
other incentives. According to an estimate aerospace engineers are earning from
five to eight lacks rupees per annum in the government as well as private
organizations. The salaries, however, tend to increase with reputation and
experience. Anyone interested in this field though has to work hard and invest
long hours into the job for the field is demanding and result oriented. Overall, it
is a booming profession and is expected to remain open for new opportunities in
the coming future.
Amulya Bavandla
Student

♦♦Career Mantra♦♦ Page 11