Aerospace Engineer
"Create Flight" by, Noah Larscheid 2nd hour
Basic information about Aerospace Engineers
- Prepare people to design aircraft and spacecraft
- Apply the laws of aerodynamics to study how objects and surfaces move through space
- Develop, design, test, and maintain equipment and vehicles that travel in the earth's atmosphere and in space
- Often specialize in one aircraft or spacecraft part or system
- Test materials, such as ceramic tiles or metal alloys, to determine their strength at high speeds
- Build models of aircraft and spacecraft
- Test aircraft and spacecraft in special environmentally controlled chambers
- Work 40 to 50 hours a week but most aerospace engineers take work home after hours
- Use CADD (computer-aided-drafting and design)
- Training usually takes 4 to 7 years in college
- They are not required a licence at entry level
Pros & Cons
- Enjoy meeting people
- Like the challenge of solving complex problems
- Proud to see their designs incorporated in aircraft or spacecraft
Cons:
- Speaking before audiences
- Prepare written reports
- Performing routine tasks
What you need to succeed in this career
Students should take courses that meet college entrance requirements. Helpful high school courses would include, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics and Probability, and Trigonometry/Advanced Algebra.
College Courses:
Aerospace engineers must earn a bachelor's degree in aerospace, aeronautics, or a related area of engineering such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, metallurgical, or ceramic engineering. The most common route for entering this field is a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering. This usually takes four, sometimes five years of full-time study beyond high school. About 90 colleges in the U.S. offer this program. You may also choose to take a five-year program that combines the bachelor's and master's degrees.
College Universities
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Main telephone: 734.764.1817
Website
Pros:
- Swimming course
- Close by
- In a rural area
Cons:
- Expensive
- Lots of people
- Huge campus
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Main telephone: 269.387.1000
Website
Pros:
- Close by
- Within communication
- In a Urban area
Cons:
- Huge Campus
- Expensive
- No swimming course
United States Air Force Academy
2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 3800
USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025
Main telephone: 719.333.1818
Website
Pros:
- Not a lot of people
- Swimming course
- In a suburban area
Cons:
- Very far
- Very large campus
- Loud
Associations/Professional organization for this career
United States Air Force, (USAF): Washington, D.C. http://www.airforce.com/careers/
Job Advertisement
Sources:
2015. Web. 14 Jan. 2016. <http://kde.cc/
the-future-of-engineering-jobs-in-aerospace-technology/>.
"University of Michigan, Ann Arbor." Forbes. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.
<http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eidm45elgl/
university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-6/>.
"University Overview." Western Michigan University. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Jan.
2016. <http://catalog.wmich.edu/content.php?catoid=18&navoid=626>.
"Smart See, Smart Do: The United States Air Force Academy." Smart College Visit.
N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2016. <http://www.smartcollegevisit.com/2010/07/
smart-see-smart-do-the-united-states-air-force-academy.html>.