Expert: David A. NewMyer - 12/12/2010

Question
im a 16 and i would like to ask, what is the future of
aviation engineering in 10 years time especially in
developing countries like malaysia? how long does it take
for a student to complete her study and be qualified enough
to get hired by airline companies? by the way, i would
really appreciate it if you are willing to explain more to
me about this industry.
thank you.

Answer
Hi,

I am not an expert in aviation engineering--or, aerospace engineering as it is called in many quarters.  My expertise is in non-engineering aviation degrees such as Aviation Flight/Professional Pilot degrees, Aviation Management Degrees and Aviation Technology degrees (including the Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic Certificate).  But, all of these degrees, engineeering or not, serve the same industry and that is the aviation/aerospace industry.  You asked about the industry, and here is some basic information about its structure:

Overall, there are four basic segnments to the CIVIL aviation/aerospace industry:

1. Aviation/Aerospace Manufacturing:  This is the segment that manufactures aircraft and aerospace vehicles as well as aviation components (such as avioics or aviation electronics devices, aviation engines and so forth).  It includes companies like Boeing and Lockheed-Martin in the USA and EADS/Airbus in Europe and Hindustan Aeronautics in India, etc.

2. Airlines, including Major/Global Airlines, National Airlines and Regional Airlines---including Passenger and Air Cargo Companies.  This would include companies like Malaysian Airlines, Garuda-Indonesian Airlines, Japan Airlines, United Airlines and Air Canada, for example.  Also, on the Air Cargo side it includes DHL, UPS and FEDEX.

3.  General Aviation, including private aviation and specialty aviation of all kinds--Corporate Flight Departments, Fractional Ownership Companies (where you can purchase a fraction of the use of a corporate jet for a year) such as Netjets, agricultural aviation companies, Fixed Base Operators (fueling and service providers for general aviation located at airports) such as Swissport, charter aviation companies and Maintenanace Repair Organizations or MROs such as Luftahansa Technic and many others.

4.  Government Aviation such as Airport Authorities and such as federal and provincial Ministry of Aviation or Ministry of Transport officials.  This can also include air traffic control and air traffic management officials in many nations.

As far as getting hired by individual companies when you finish your studies, the key thing is that the university or college that you attend should have some hiring connections with particular aerospace employers that work with that university.  Also, many aerospace employers have internships and other means of hiring new employees.

On the Military side, there are also a number of aviation positions, but, mostly they have to do with procurement of aviation equipment, flying aircraft, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control and so forth.

As far as aerospace engineering degree programs, most bachelor's degree programs take four years to complete.  For more information on Aerospace Engineering Curricula, please do an internet search for the college or university of your choice.  Most programs have a fair amount of coverage of aircraft design in them, including aircraft structures, propulsion, flight controls, and fluid dynamics.

I hope that this answer helps!  Please ask another question via AllExperts if you need more information.

Best wishes,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbodale, USA