Expert: David A. NewMyer - 5/17/2005

Question
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Followup To
Question -
hello sir,i am in 12 standard in UAE,sharjah from CBSE board.my name is Tousif and i am an indian.Which one of aviation and aeronotical have a better scope according to you.Waiting for your reply.goodday.
Answer -
Tousif:

Thank you for your question.  I will try to assist.

The difference between the aviation industry and aeronautical engineering is this:

The aviation industry is the totality of all that happens in aviation and aerospace.  It can include the following components:

1. Aviation and aerospace manufacturing (manufacturing of aviation and space related items for the civil, military and space related segments of the industry);

2.  The airlines:  major, national, regional and all cargo

3.  General Aviation:  All flying EXCEPT that done by the military and my the scheduled airlines; and,

4.  Government aviation including the military and non-military segments.  Non-military aviation in the government sector would include the operation of airports or the regulation of civil aviation, for example.

Aeronautical engineering is a SUBSET (or part of) of the aviation industry.  Normally, aerospace engineeers are employed in the aviation and aerospace manufacturing segment of the industry, although some also work for the airlines.

As far as job opportunities, aerospace engineeering in the USA numbers about 50,000 or so jobs out of a total of 2.1 to 2.2 million in aviation overall.  The vast majority of jobs in aviation are operational in nature--pilots, flight attendants, aviation technicians, ramp agents, customer service agents, etc.  For example, there are about 125,000 airline pilots in the USA.  I do not have the worldwide numbers for these categories...

As for colleges on these subjects:  There are excellent aeropsace engineeering programs at MIT, the University of Illinois, Gerogia Tech and Stanford.  There are excellent aviation degree programs at Embry Riddle Aero University, the University of North Dakota, Western Michigan University, The Ohio State University, Purdue University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale (where I work) and Parks College of St. Louis University.  There is an excellent directory of aviation degree programs available from the University Aviation Association at their website:  http://www.uaa.aero/ or by emailing them at uaa@auburn.edu  The title of this directory is the COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE.

Best wishes to you,

Sincerely,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu/  

Answer
Hi, Tousif:

As far as a "better scope" my answer would be aviation....aviation is the larger of the two fields since aeronautical engineeering is a subset of aviation.  A key, however, in your consideration of which field to enter is this:  Which field are YOU interested in studying and working within?  If you are scienfifically and math-inclined, then, you should be capable of entering either field.  Even though it may be smaller, if aerospace engineering is of greater interest to you, then pursue it.  The key is to work and study something you enjoy....that way, your work and studying seems much less arduous if you are enjoying it every day.

I hope that this advice is of assistance to you.

Sincerely,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu/