Career in Aerospace Engineering in India: Many people wanted to be a pilot or an astronaut when they were young, where they could build their spaceship and take off to the moon. But for those who are adults now and still hold the same dream, aerospace engineering is your stream. At first, this branch was known as aeronautical engineering. However, because of technological advancement, it was universally termed Aerospace Engineering.
Aerospace engineering covers two main sectors – Aeronautical Engineering and Astronautical engineering. It is known among the toughest engineering branches. An aerospace engineer learns everything from building a small propeller to working on rockets and space shuttles. In addition, they also study numerous aircraft and spaceships. Aerospace engineers are true experts in in-flight technology. And in the modern world, aircraft are used in travelling, shipping, war, recon or various research activities. Readers will learn about aerospace engineering through this article, like admission, eligibility, entrance exams, colleges, scope and more.
Quick Facts
The following is the summary of the aerospace engineering course. Let’s take a look.
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Course Name | B.E/B.Tech M.E/M.Tech Diploma PhD |
| Duration | UG: 4 years PG: 3 years PhD: 3 years |
| Average Fees | Government Colleges: 5.6 lakhs INR Private Colleges: 3.5 lakhs INR |
| Course Specialisation | Aircraft and Spacecraft Guidance and Control Small Satellites, Navigation, Aeronautics |
| Job Profile | Aerospace Engineer, Data Processing Manager, Data Processing Manager, Maintenance Engineer, Mechanical Engineer |
| Top Recruiters | Eaton, Rolls Royce, Honeywell, Timetooth Technologies, Zeus Numerix |
What is Aerospace Engineering?
Aerospace engineering concentrate on designing and building machines that fly and is one of the newest branches of engineering. It prepares students with the basic concepts of aerodynamics and knowledge of aircraft power plants. The work of an aerospace engineer includes designing aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles and testing prototypes to make sure that they function according to the plans.
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Various Aerospace Engineering Courses in India
The course of aerospace engineering is divided into four levels.
| Course Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| B.E/B.Tech | 4 years |
| M.E/M.Tech | 3 years |
| Diploma | 2-3 years |
| PhD | 3 years |
Admission Procedure
- For the undergraduate level, The candidate must have cleared the 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics with a minimum of 60% marks required.
- A degree of B.Tech in the same discipline is required for the postgraduate level, with a minimum CPI of 6.5 or 60% marks in B.tech mandatory. Minimum qualifying marks in GATE ME.
Eligibility Criteria
This domain of engineering needs both technical and scientific knowledge. To gain admission at graduation level into some of the top colleges of India, having at least 50% marks with a good JEE score is always helpful. If you are looking to take admission at a postgraduate level qualifying GATE exam with a top score is compulsory. For courses like Diploma and a PhD, having the same background is important.
Here we have mentioned the eligibility criteria to pursue a chemical engineering programme at the UG and PG levels.
| Course | Eligibility Criteria |
| For Undergraduate Level | The candidate must have cleared the 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. A minimum of 60% marks is required. |
| For Postgraduate Level | A degree of B.Tech in the same discipline is required. A minimum CPI of 6.5 or 60% marks in B.tech is mandatory. Minimum qualifying marks in GATE ME. |
Entrance Exams for Aerospace Engineering
Here we have mentioned important and most known exams that must be cleared to gain admission in the course in India.
| Entrance Exam | Conducted By |
| JEE Main | National Test Agency |
| VITEEE | VIT University |
| BITSAT | Birla Institute of Technology and Science |
| MU OET | Manipal University |
| KIITEE | Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology |
| AUCET | Andhra University |
Top Colleges for Aerospace Engineering
Some of the top colleges for aerospace engineering in India are given below:
| College Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Technology | Bombay |
| Indian Institute of Technology | Kanpur |
| Manipal University | Manipal |
| SRM | Chennai |
| Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai | Chennai |
| Birla Insitute Of Technology | Ranchi |
| Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology | Thiruvananthapuram |
Fee Structure of Aerospace Engineering
The basic fee structure of aerospace engineering for UG and PG courses is mentioned below. However, remember that the fees below are subject to change, depending on whether you are admitted to a private college or the government.
For Undergraduate
Here is the fee structure for the UG courses in Aerospace Engineering in India, but keep in mind it might change from college to college.
| College Sector | Fees in INR |
| Government Colleges | Min- 13,000 INR Avg- 5.6 lakhs INR Max- 16.3 Lakhs INR |
| Private Colleges | Min-40,000 INR Avg- 3.5 lakhs INR Max- 16.3 lakhs INR |
For Postgraduate
The fee structure for the PG courses in Aerospace Engineering in India, but keep in mind it might change from college to college.
| College Sector | Fees in INR |
| Government Colleges | Min- 10,500 INR Avg- 1.25 Lakhs INR Max- 2.4 Lakhs INR |
| Private Colleges | Min-1 Lakhs INR Avg- 1.6 lakhs INR Max- 2.5 lakhs INR |
Syllabus and Subjects
Below is the list of subjects and topics taught during the academic years of aerospace engineering. However, remember that these subjects/topics might change from college to college. So, if you find add-ons of any new subject or maybe a few topics less, don’t fret.
Subjects for UG courses in aerospace engineering
Topics to be taught during the UG courses in aerospace engineering are:
| S.No. | Chapter Name | S.No. | Chapter Name |
| 1. | Elements of Aeronautics. | 14. | Total Quality Management and Reliability engineering |
| 2. | Aero-Fluid Mechanics | 15. | Rocket Propulsion |
| 3. | Mechanics of Solids | 16. | Vibrations and Elements of Aeroelasticity |
| 4. | Aircraft Component Drawing | 17. | Helicopter Aerodynamics |
| 5. | Aerodynamics | 18. | Rockets and Missiles |
| 6. | Machines and Mechanisms | 19. | Combustion Engineering |
| 7. | Aircraft Systems and Instruments | 20. | Theory of Plates and Shells |
| 8. | Air-breathing Propulsion | 21. | Computer-aided design and analysis |
| 9. | Aerodynamics Laboratory | 22. | Automatic Control System |
| 10. | Introduction to Space Tech | 23. | Spacecraft technology |
| 11. | Aircraft Structure Designing and Building | 24. | Aircraft Materials |
| 12. | Flight Dynamics | 25. | Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics |
| 13. | Heat Transfer |
Subjects for PG courses in aerospace engineering
Here we have mentioned Subjects/Topics that are taught during the PG courses in aerospace engineering:
| Engineering Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics | Aerodynamic Design |
| Advanced aerodynamics | Elements of Gas Dynamics and Propulsion |
| Numerical Methods in Gas Dynamics | Helicopter Aerodynamics |
| Hypersonic Air-Breathing Propulsion | Thermal Stress Analysis |
| Aero Elasticity | Grid Generation |
| Mechanics of Damage Tolerance | Non-Linear Behavior of Plates and Shells |
| Elastic Stability | – |
Course Specialisation
Some of the examples of specialisation in the field of aerospace engineering:
| Aircraft and Spacecraft Guidance and Control | Small Satellites |
| Micro Air Vehicles | Optimization Techniques for Aerospace Systems |
| Space and Atmospheric Flight Optimal Control | Space Cryogenic Fluids Thermal Management |
| Space Environment Modeling | Navigation |
| Space Mission Design and Planning | Spacecraft and Vehicle Design |
| Aeronautics | – |
Job Opportunities in Aerospace Engineering
In India, the field of aerospace engineering holds great possibilities because of the increased number of industries in the aviation sector. Due to the development of technology in India, sectors focusing on Space research, rocket building, cargo shipping, travelling aircraft, chopper services, done services and more are some trending recruiters of aerospace engineers.
Job Profile
| Aerospace Engineer | Data Processing Manager |
| Data Processing Manager | Maintenance Engineer |
| Mechanical Engineer | Aircraft or Spacecraft Designers |
| Military | Industrial Engineer |
Roles of an Aerospace Engineer
- Apply the principles of science and technology to create aircraft, components and support equipment.
- Research and develop design specifications and use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create plans.
- Supervise the assembly of airframes and the installation of engines, instruments and other equipment.
- Take part in flight-test programmes to measure take-off distances, rate of climb, stall speeds, manoeuvrability and landing capacities.
- Resolve issues that arise during the design, development and testing processes.
- Maintain aircraft for full operation, including regular inspections, maintenance, repairs and servicing.
- Measure and improve the performance of aircraft, components and systems
- Investigate aircraft accidents.
Skills of an Aerospace Engineer
- Technical Knowledge
- Creative and Innovative Thinking
- Problem-solving
- Analytical Skills
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Teamwork skills
Salary of an Aerospace Engineer
The following is the salary for an aerospace engineering course:
| Job Profile | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Designer | INR 4.2 LPA |
| Aerospace Engineer | INR 7.07 LPA |
| Assistant Technical Officer | INR 2.84 LPA |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | INR 3.45 LPA |
Pros and Cons of Aerospace Engineering
The followings are the advantages and disadvantages of aerospace engineering:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| The most important factor would be the high pay scale. Aerospace engineers are one of the highest-paid job responsibilities not just in India but across the globe. | Sometimes aerospace engineers might travel all over the country to find productive projects. |
| There is a high level of job gratification, in addition to the emotional satisfaction of achievement. | They can devise innovative devices not confined to aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, or over and above advanced-technology fresh government ventures. |
| This job profile is location-specific. In short, it requires an engineer to shift his/her family’s base and start afresh. Therefore, resettling can be a concern. | It could be full of anxiety and stress, as completing a project is a handful of tasks. |
Top Recruiters for Aerospace Engineers
Famous organisations like TAS, Airbus and ISRO are some of the major recruiters that hire aerospace engineers. Because of the abundance of aircraft industries, India has a great scope of desirable placements for aeronautical engineers.
A few examples of other famous companies that hire aerospace engineers are:
| National Aerospace Laboratories | Eaton |
| Rolls Royce | Honeywell |
| Timetooth Technologies | Zeus Numerix |
| Ansys | Infotech Enterprises |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the major sectors that hire a graduate aerospace engineer?
Defence, cargo shipment, private airlines, and space research are a few sectors that recruit an expert from this field engineer.
Will I get good pay in India if I join an aerospace engineering course?
This field holds a fantastic job possibility in India. If you are an experienced person, you can quickly get an excellent salary package. An aerospace engineer can earn up to Rs 45,000/- monthly.
Apart from IITs and NITs, what are the other best colleges that provide aerospace engineering courses?
Colleges like Manipal University Chennai, Andhra University, and Defense Institute of Advanced Technology come under the top-ranking institutes for this course.
Can I join ISRO after doing aerospace engineering?
To join ISRO, candidates must qualify for the annual exam. The recruitment for aerospace engineers in ISRO is also through an entrance test.
Do aerospace engineers fly the flights?
No, aerospace engineers are not pilots and flights are made to fly only by pilots.
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