Aircraft engineering is a branch of engineering that focuses on the design and maintenance of aircraft. All types of flying machines, such as airplanes, gliders, and helicopters, are classified as aircraft. For centuries, people have been enthralled the prospect of flight, and a career in this field can be both challenging and rewarding.
Design and maintenance are the two main areas of aircraft engineering. An aircraft’s design is based on a set of fixed elements and variables. The weight of the cargo or passengers, the distance the unit can travel, and the height off the ground are all fixed items. The power source, the physical shell design, and the aesthetics of the unit are all variables. Design is a crucial aspect of engineering that necessitates a unique blend of technical expertise and creativity.
The maintenance aspect of the job focuses on the skills and procedures needed to keep the plane running. The aircraft engineering team examines the various mechanical systems during the engineering phase of the product design and determines what type of work will be required to keep the system operational. The complexity of the repairs, the frequency of maintenance, and the availability of parts must all be taken into account.
Many people believe that aircraft engineering maintenance is solely concerned with how to complete repairs. However, this is only a small part of the overall picture. Parts that need to be replaced or maintained should be relatively easy to reach in a well-designed mechanical unit. Scheduled maintenance should not necessitate a high level of skill or time commitment, as this will compromise the unit’s functionality.
Potential customers will not be pleased with an aircraft that must be completely disassembled every three months to clean, grease, and inspect mechanical parts. Because all aircraft must have a valid certificate of airworthiness to fly, units with difficult-to-inspect parts will cause additional delays. For obvious reasons, there are very strict rules governing aircraft safety. An aircraft with a poor design may have trouble passing inspection.
Candidates must complete formal post-secondary education in order to work in aircraft engineering. This is not a profession that can be learned through experience. A community college program in this field usually lasts two to three years and includes both theoretical and practical components. Many programs include an internship or related work placement opportunity to assist students in learning the skills needed for this profession.