Ever wonder how airplanes fly, who designs them, or how new aircraft are developed? Who develops safety and comfort features, or how the navigation, computer, and radar systems work in an airplane? The answer is aeronautical engineers – those people that design, develop, and improve aircraft, and who dream and imagine the future of air flight and air travel. Looking for a rewarding and personally challenging career? Aeronautical engineering could be the job for you.

Aeronautical engineers work with airplanes and other aircraft such as helicopters. There is quite a variety in terms of the areas they might focus on: commercial aircraft, military and defense, or future prototypes. A person might focus on one specific model of aircraft, or might be involved in work that affects several types of aircraft, or could focus on areas that affect flight physics in general. Because of the variety, and the specializations available, the work is interesting, challenging, and constantly changing; incorporating the newest advances in technology, science, and knowledge. This is definitely an interesting and dynamic field.

There are many fields of specialization available in the field of aeronautical engineers. Aeronautical design engineers will design and develop new systems and products. Aeronautical test engineers coordinate testing and performance of aircraft. Aerodynamic specialists focus on areas such as aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and concept prototypes and structural engineers may devote themselves to the structural design and navigation of a plane; and others may investigate aircraft system failures and crashes, to prevent accidents from occurring in the future and to insure the highest level of safety possible.

The type of skills that aeronautical engineers possess include creativity, advanced statistical, problem solving, and math skills; the ability to think logically; and a good understanding of physics, science, and technology, along with a positive attitude and a willingness to be challenged and to think out of the box.

Aeronautical engineers require a bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering for an entry level job. Typically, aeronautical engineers begin as a junior engineer or trainee to gain experience in their field of interest. Advancement usually requires at least a Masters Degree, licensure as a professional engineer, solid work experience and job performance.

The field of aeronautical engineering is exciting, and offers a variety of fields to explore and specialize in. By focusing on every conceivable piece of aircraft technology, these aeronautical engineers make safe flight possible, and are constantly working on ways to improve aircraft safety, comfort, and performance. These are the people that will re-imagine and design the new flight prototypes of the future, develop new exciting technologies, and ways to fly and travel.

The vision of future air travel is now in a flux: with the amount of air travel today, and the issues that are being experienced in terms of costs by the biggest airline companies, the whole vision of future air travel is being re-evaluated, and new ideas and aircraft are being designed and tested. It is an exciting time for those considering careers as aeronautical engineers.