Do you want to be an Aeronautical Engineer? What you need to know…
Are you interested in a career in engineering? The aeronautics industry provides plenty of employment opportunities to engineers who have the right training and skills. You can acquire the capabilities you need to succeed by attending courses at one of South Africa’s aeronautical engineering schools. From the duties of engineers in this field to local aeronautical engineering universities, you can discover everything you need to know by reading our blog.
If you have a relevant qualification and you’re good at problem-solving, you can find engineering jobs on Job Mail.
1. What exactly does an Aeronautical Engineer do?
An aeronautical engineer is responsible for designing the components of flight vehicles. This includes developing the components as well as making adjustments to the flight vehicles. Professionals in this field work with helicopters and aeroplanes. They also work with satellites and combustion engines. Professionals in this industry can also be referred to as an aerospace engineer, aircraft designer or an aircraft production engineer. Other titles include flight test pilot and aircraft safety engineer. A career in the aeronautics industry is exciting as it involves working with cutting-edge technology. While working to develop new technology can be challenging, it’s also satisfying and intellectually stimulating. Professionals in this field typically work as part of a team with each member specialising in a different area.
2. Qualifications/skills and experience you need to become one
If you want to pursue a career in aeronautics, you’ll need to obtain the right qualifications and skills. Aeronautical engineering universities in South Africa include Wits, which offers qualifications in mechanical and industrial engineering. This degree offers you a comprehensive foundation in aeronautical design as well as aircraft behaviour. Your training will also include a practical component that runs in conjunction with the aircraft industry.
You can complete a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cape Town, University of KZN, and The University of Johannesburg. Other aeronautical engineering schools include the University of Pretoria, where you can also complete a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. Other relevant institutes include the South African Civil Aviation Authority as well as the Engineering Council of South Africa. The Transportation Training Authority and the SA Air Force are other important institutes in this industry.
If you plan to enter the field of aeronautics, it’s important to know what skills you need to find employment. To succeed in aeronautics, you’ll need to be good at problem-solving, and a high level of precision is required for this role. The tasks that aeronautical engineers perform require the ability to pay attention to detail.
Professionals in this field must have superior mathematical and mechanical capabilities. Computer literacy and good communication skills are required. Aeronautical engineers need to be reliable, ambitious, and self-motivated, and the ability to work as part of a team is important.
3. What are the career options when you have an Aeronautical Engineer qualification?
There is a range of engineering jobs in the aeronautics industry. Aeronautics engineers can find employment in research and design positions or they could choose to specialise in operations and management. There are a variety of specialisation areas to choose from in aeronautics. One option is to focus on aerodynamics, which involves researching airflow. Another important focus area is the performance of an aircraft.
A specialisation in systems involves the integration of all fields while a focus on avionics concentrates on flight instrumentation. If you want to be tasked with ensuring that the aircraft is airworthy, specialise in certification.
Manufacturing specialists are tasked with quality and safety control. The area of specialisation that you choose depends on your interests as well as your training and abilities.
Now that you know more about engineering jobs in the field of aeronautics, you can search online for suitable positions. If you’re good at mathematics and mechanics, this just might be the right career for you.
