Those magnificent flying machines
Do you fancy a career as an aerospace engineer?
Could a life working with aeroplanes be one that interests you? • Electrical or electronic engineering Mechanical engineering Manufacturing or product engineering Physics or applied physics Software engineering or mathematics You could also start as an aerospace engineering technician apprentice with an airline operator, airline manufacturer or engineering company.
You would then continue your training up to degree level.
You’ll usually start on a company’s training scheme, and work towards your engineering • • • • licence, known as a Part 66, and issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). • • • Excellent maths ability Problem solving skills IT skills including computer aided design or manufacturing (CAD or CAM) Project management and budgeting skills Technical skills You’ll research, develop, build and maintain aircraft or their systems. • • • • • • • • Developing navigation, communications or weapons systems Researching ways to make fuel-efficient parts, such as wings, fuselage and engines Using CAD software for design Testing prototypes Collecting and analysing test data Planning and supervising the fitting of aircraft and components Signing off projects under strict industry regulations Scheduling and supervising maintenance You may also have to estimate project costs and timescales, write technical reports and manuals, and give presentations.
You can expect to earn from £20,000 to £26,000; experienced ranges from £28,000 to £40,000 and highly experienced earn £45,000 to £60,000.
You’ll usually work 37 to 40 hours a week in an office or factory. You may travel to inspect or test aircraft at different sites.
With experience, you could specialise in a particular field like: • Aerodynamics • Fuel efficiency • Space technology • investigating air accidents
You could also move up to become a project manager or consultant aerospace engineer. • • • • • • Aerospace engineering technician Airline pilot Astronomer Electrical engineer