Globalisation has opened an array of career choices. One such field which is fast gaining popularity amongst the youth today is Aeronautical Engineering. It is one of the most challenging fields of engineering with a wide scope for growth. This field deals with the development of new technology in the field of aviation, space exploration and defence systems. It is one of the two main branches of Aerospace Engineering, the other one being Astronautical Engineering. Both the fields are focused on flight mechanics and materials science. While Aeronautical Engineering is focused on flight inside the earth’s atmosphere, which includes airplanes, helicopters, gliders, and related devices, Astronautical Engineering is focused on flight outside the earth’s atmosphere. Aerospace Engineering is the discipline which is closest to what is popularly known as ‘Rocket Science’.
Aeronautical Engineering specialises in research and development, i.e., designing, construction, development, testing, operation and maintenance of both commercial and military aircraft, spacecrafts and their components as well as satellites and missiles. The specialisation available in this branch includes structural design, navigational guidance and control systems, instrumentation and communication or production methods, or it can be in a particular product such as military aircrafts, passenger planes, helicopters, satellites, rockets, etc. Technology like the computer-aided design (CAD) software, robotics, laser and advanced electronic optics are used by them.

Skills required
The most important skills required for this field are alertness, attention to detail, technical precision, focus, and teamwork. Physical fitness and complete dedication to work are the other requirements, along with a high level of mathematical precision and an analytical bent of mind. Though highly paid, the work is very demanding.
Study route: The basic eligibility criterion for admission to Aeronautical Engineering is 10+2 or an equivalent examination with physics, chemistry and mathematics as compulsory subjects along with a good aggregate percentage. Selection to BE/B.Tech courses is through IIT-JEE which the IITs conduct in April every year. Besides the IITs, there are some other institutes which also conduct entrance examinations for the admission of students. The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST - http://www.iist.ac.in) offers undergraduate B.Tech programme in Avionics, Aerospace Engineering and Physical Sciences. Admissions to the undergraduate programmes (B.Tech) at IIST are through the ISAT.
Aeronautical Engineering can be pursued with mechanical and electronics branches as specialised areas of study. One could even go in for a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and further specialisation can be pursued at the post-graduate level. One can also opt for a diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. Diploma holders can acquire degrees on clearing the exams of the Aeronautical Society of India. Students who have passed Standard XII/ II PUC with physics and mathematics can enroll for a three-year course, equivalent to an Aeronautical Engineering course, with the AMAeSI (Associate Membership of Aeronautical Society of India) Institutes, which conduct the course and make arrangements for practical training. Aeronautical Engineering being a research-oriented field, one should take the time to make an honest assessment of their strengths and what they think they would enjoy doing more, and choose accordingly.
When we choose a career based on our natural inclination towards work, we perform better and get better growth opportunities.
Career prospects
Engineers may work in areas like design, development, and maintenance as well as in the managerial and teaching posts in institutes. They have a very good demand in airlines, aircraft manufacturing units, air turbine production plants or design development programmes for the aviation industry. Aerospace environment is sophisticated with rewarding career opportunities involving leading edge technology.
Job opportunities
In India, aeronautical engineers are mostly employed by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and the Defence Ministry. One can also look for jobs available with the Civil Aviation Department, National Aeronautical Laboratory, Defence Research and Development Laboratories (DRDO) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). A good percentage of Indians constitute the work force of engineers and technical professionals in NASA.

If you aspire for a career that’s beyond the conventional, then Aeronautical Engineering would be ideal
Few institutes offering Aeronautical Engineering are:
IIT, Powai, Mumbai 
IIT, Kharagpur 
IIT, Chennai
IIT, Kanpur
Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai
MIT Campus, Anna University, Chromepet, Chennai
Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology, Chennai
Nehru College of Aeronautical and Applied Sciences, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)
Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh
School of Aviation Science and Technology, Delhi Flying Club, Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi - Full time Aircraft Maintenance Engineering course of four years duration, duly approved by DGCA.
Indian Institute of Aeronautics, Patna Airport, Patna — Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
Institute of Aviation Technology, Bahadurgarh, Haryana
Indian Institute for Aeronautical Engineering & Information Technology, Pune
VSM Institute of Aerospace Engineering & Technology, Bangalore
Hindustan Electronics Academy, Ulsoor, Bangalore — Four year BTech in Aerospace Engineering degree course recognised by IGNOU and three year Aircraft Maintenance Engineering course approved by DGCA
Indian Institute of Aeronautical Engineering (IIAE), Dehradun
The Madras Institute of Technology offers a three year graduate programme in Aeronautical Engineering for BSc students, subject to their having passed maths and physics at Class XII stage.
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore has MTech and PhD programmes in aeronautics. 

Overseas, you could look at pursuing the course from:
The Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands, Europe
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
University of Michigan, USA
California Institute of Technology, USA
University of Maryland, USA
University of Illinois, USA
Stanford University, USA
University of Texas at Austin, USA
Virginia Tech, USA
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, USA