Becoming an Aviation Engineer
Take a Free Young Eagles Flight
EAA’s Young Eagles Flight Program
-
For youth ages 8-17
-
FREE introductory flight given by a local EAA chapter or individual EAA member in your area
-
Young Eagles are given a pre and post flight review of the interior and exterior of the airplane, safety instructions and an overview of airplane controls and operations
-
A 15-20 minute flight
Find a Young Eagles Flight
YoungEaglesDay.org
Register for a Young Eagles flight using EAA's online registration tool.
AeroEducate Calendar of Events ›
Find a Young Eagles rally or other youth events in your area.
Set Yourself up for success
You can start preparing to become an engineer now:
-
Talking to your high school guidance counselor and parents as early as your freshman year to let them know that your dream is to become an engineer. They can help you identify courses you can take to set you up for success in your future career, as well as helping to find the proper resources to guide you through applying to a college, finding scholarships and talking with recruiters.
-
Focusing on taking advanced placement, math and science courses while in high school can help prepare you for the college courses you will be taking later.
-
You can start working toward your sport or private pilot certificate at any age, although you must be 16 years old to solo and 17 before you can be issued a pilot certificate.
-
Join or get involved in your local EAA chapter. Understanding how airplanes function can give you an insight into a career in engineering.
-
Be active
-
Volunteer with local civic or school organizations
-
Join an engineering, robotics, 3D printing, or aviation club
-
-
Keep working on AeroEducate badging and new activities to learn more about aviation.
Engineering Education
After graduating from high school, prospective engineers typically need to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Admission requirements for undergraduate engineering programs vary from school to school, but a competitive GPA of 3.0 or higher, strong ACT or SAT scores, several letters of recommendation, and personal essays generally are needed. A strong background in math and science is also recommended.
Civil Engineers
Civil Engineers focus on airports, buildings, and infrastructure.
-
Design structures have to meet very specific requirements in the world of aviation. For instance, runways have to be built very strong to withstand heavy aircraft touching down on them. Civil engineers also have to consider weather elements to be sure runways and taxiways are always clear and safe.
-
Airports have to be designed to handle people traffic flow, aircraft traffic flow, baggage handling, support vehicles, fueling, and de-icing.
Electrical Engineers
Electrical Engineers bring power and motion to life
-
As an electrical engineer you will design, develop, and test, electrical equipment like motors and servos; the things that control a vehicles movement and keep aircraft flying.
-
They also invent things like radar and navigation systems, communications systems, or power generation equipment.
Software Engineers
Software Engineers develop the brains that drive the machines.
-
Nearly everything in today’s world is controlled by software programming. Software engineers develop and build products that run control systems.
-
They build and update infrastructure to meet demands for communications, flight controls, and operations.
Human Factors Engineers
Human Factors Engineers make mechanisms operational, comfortable and usable.
-
They focus on how products interact with humans. They make chairs more comfortable, they accommodate space for people to move; they make sure the motions and constraints of our human body are able to interact with machines in the best way.
Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical Engineers study objects and systems in motion.
-
This is one of the most diverse engineering degrees because mechanical engineers create technology to meet human needs.
-
Mechanical engineers develop creative ideas to solve difficult tasks. By determining what materials should be used, how the machine should move and operate and what controls would be needed to manipulate the machine.
Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace Engineering focuses on all things that move, including aircraft but also rockets, missiles, and space vehicles that will leave Earth’s atmosphere.
-
This encompasses all of the studies and roles of Electrical, Mechanical, Human Factors, and Aeronautical Engineers.
-
An aerospace engineer designs, builds and tests components and vehicles. They have a greater focus on the study of propulsion, motors, engines, rockets, and future technology powerplants.
Internship or Co-Op
Participating in an internship or a co-op while in college can help you to develop skills, build networks and relationships in the engineering community. An internship or co-op will also help in finding a job after college due to the experience you will have built. Employers also recognize interns and can make full-time offers to the individuals that stand out. Planning on participating in an internship or co-op during your tenure at a college or university can be a good long-term investment.
Career
Enjoy a rewarding career in engineering. What will you create that may change the future of aviation?
Give Back
When possible, inspire the next generation of youth. Get involved in your local engineering groups, mentor kids and become the spark that ignites a fire for engineering.
Take a Free Young Eagles Flight
EAA’s Young Eagles Flight Program
-
For youth ages 8-17
-
FREE introductory flight given by a local EAA chapter or individual EAA member in your area
-
Young Eagles are given a pre and post flight review of the interior and exterior of the airplane, safety instructions and an overview of airplane controls and operations
-
A 15-20 minute flight
Find a Young Eagles Flight
YoungEaglesDay.org
Register for a Young Eagles flight using EAA's online registration tool.
AeroEducate Calendar of Events ›
Find a Young Eagles rally or other youth events in your area.
Set Yourself up for success
You can start preparing to become an engineer now:
-
Talking to your high school guidance counselor and parents as early as your freshman year to let them know that your dream is to become an engineer. They can help you identify courses you can take to set you up for success in your future career, as well as helping to find the proper resources to guide you through applying to a college, finding scholarships and talking with recruiters.
-
Focusing on taking advanced placement, math and science courses while in high school can help prepare you for the college courses you will be taking later.
-
You can start working toward your sport or private pilot certificate at any age, although you must be 16 years old to solo and 17 before you can be issued a pilot certificate.
-
Join or get involved in your local EAA chapter. Understanding how airplanes function can give you an insight into a career in engineering.
-
Be active
-
Volunteer with local civic or school organizations
-
Join an engineering, robotics, 3D printing, or aviation club
-
-
Keep working on AeroEducate badging and new activities to learn more about aviation.
Engineering Education
After graduating from high school, prospective engineers typically need to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Admission requirements for undergraduate engineering programs vary from school to school, but a competitive GPA of 3.0 or higher, strong ACT or SAT scores, several letters of recommendation, and personal essays generally are needed. A strong background in math and science is also recommended.
Civil Engineers
Civil Engineers focus on airports, buildings, and infrastructure.
-
Design structures have to meet very specific requirements in the world of aviation. For instance, runways have to be built very strong to withstand heavy aircraft touching down on them. Civil engineers also have to consider weather elements to be sure runways and taxiways are always clear and safe.
-
Airports have to be designed to handle people traffic flow, aircraft traffic flow, baggage handling, support vehicles, fueling, and de-icing.
Electrical Engineers
Electrical Engineers bring power and motion to life
-
As an electrical engineer you will design, develop, and test, electrical equipment like motors and servos; the things that control a vehicles movement and keep aircraft flying.
-
They also invent things like radar and navigation systems, communications systems, or power generation equipment.
Software Engineers
Software Engineers develop the brains that drive the machines.
-
Nearly everything in today’s world is controlled by software programming. Software engineers develop and build products that run control systems.
-
They build and update infrastructure to meet demands for communications, flight controls, and operations.
Human Factors Engineers
Human Factors Engineers make mechanisms operational, comfortable and usable.
-
They focus on how products interact with humans. They make chairs more comfortable, they accommodate space for people to move; they make sure the motions and constraints of our human body are able to interact with machines in the best way.
Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical Engineers study objects and systems in motion.
-
This is one of the most diverse engineering degrees because mechanical engineers create technology to meet human needs.
-
Mechanical engineers develop creative ideas to solve difficult tasks. By determining what materials should be used, how the machine should move and operate and what controls would be needed to manipulate the machine.
Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace Engineering focuses on all things that move, including aircraft but also rockets, missiles, and space vehicles that will leave Earth’s atmosphere.
-
This encompasses all of the studies and roles of Electrical, Mechanical, Human Factors, and Aeronautical Engineers.
-
An aerospace engineer designs, builds and tests components and vehicles. They have a greater focus on the study of propulsion, motors, engines, rockets, and future technology powerplants.
Internship or Co-Op
Participating in an internship or a co-op while in college can help you to develop skills, build networks and relationships in the engineering community. An internship or co-op will also help in finding a job after college due to the experience you will have built. Employers also recognize interns and can make full-time offers to the individuals that stand out. Planning on participating in an internship or co-op during your tenure at a college or university can be a good long-term investment.
Career
Enjoy a rewarding career in engineering. What will you create that may change the future of aviation?
Give Back
When possible, inspire the next generation of youth. Get involved in your local engineering groups, mentor kids and become the spark that ignites a fire for engineering.
