FACULTY OF AIR ENGINEERING

AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

KADUNA
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

AED 201
INTRODUCTION TO AEROSPACE
SYSTEMS 1
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 OVERVIEW OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES

Prepared by Engr. Rexcharles Donatus 2

OVERVIEW OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES
INTRODUCTION

Today’s aerospace professionals design, develop, test, maintain and

supervise the manufacture of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, lunar
vehicles, remotely piloted aircraft and rotorcraft, and missiles.

They develop new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and
space exploration.

Aerospace engineers typically are employed in the aerospace product and

parts industry, although their skills are becoming increasingly valuable in
other fields. For example, in the motor vehicles manufacturing industry,
they design vehicles that have lower air resistance and, thus, increased
fuel efficiency.

Aerospace engineering is a highly complex technological field that require

engineer to engage in research and development, design and test
prototypes to ensure it function accordingly.

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 DEFINITION OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

Aerospace Engineering is a branch of engineering focused on research,

design, development ,manufacturing, testing and maintenance of aircraft and
spacecraft. It is broadly categorized into two overlapping disciplines:
Aeronautical engineering and Astronautical Engineering

Aeronautical Engineering deals with building and designing aircraft (aero

plane. helicopter, jets) that can operate and fly within the earth atmosphere.

Astronautical Engineering entails building and design vehicles that operate

outside the earth atmosphere. Examples are rockets, satellite, spaceship
and so on.

As a corollary, an aerospace engineering education should produce engineers

capable of the following:

Conceive: conceptualize technical problems and solutions.

Design: study and comprehend processes that lead to solutions to a
particular problem including verbal, written, and visual
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communications.
 INTRODUCTION CONT’D

Development: extend the outputs of research.

Testing: determine performance of the output of research,
development, or design.
Research: solve new problems and gain new knowledge.
Manufacturing: produce a safe, effective, economic final
product.
Operation and maintenance: keep the products working
effectively.
Marketing and sales: look for good ideas for new products or
improving current products in order to sell.
Administration (management): coordinate all the above.

Thus, the student as a future aerospace engineer will develop his or

her professional career accomplishing some of the above listed
capabilities in any of the activities that arise within the aerospace
industry.

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 AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AREAS OF SPECIALIZATIONS

The aerospace profession offers many different and interesting kinds of

jobs. Many of the people working in the aerospace industry are engineers.

Engineers usually work as part of a team. They design methods to build,

test, and operate aircraft or spacecraft.

Engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, and unmanned vehicles as solutions

to complex problems for a variety of missions.

These missions may include defense, global transportation of people or

goods, or international endeavors like the exploration of space or harnessing
our airspace. There are also commercial applications like race car, golf ball,
or speedboat design.

Technicians and/or mechanics manufacture, build, and maintain the

aircraft or spacecraft.

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SPECIALIZATION CONT’D

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 SPECIALIZATION CONTD

There are many specialty areas in engineering where experts in

narrow areas are needed.

In all these areas, engineers use math and basic engineering

knowledge to develop their designs, build physical or virtual prototypes
for evaluation, and then look at data from research to assess their
suitability

Aerospace professionals often specializes in areas such as

aerodynamics (e.g. by performing computational fluid dynamics, wind
tunnel testing); structural design and engineering; guidance, navigation,
and control (GNC); structures and material; thermal dynamics;
propulsion; instrumentation and communication; stability and control;
trajectory analysis; information systems; production methods; human
factors; etc.

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 AERODYNAMICS SPECIALIZATION

Aerodynamics : Study of the properties of air and how it interacts with

the surfaces of the aircraft.

Aerodynamics engineers design and test the external surfaces of

atmospheric aerospace vehicles. They often use computational methods
to stimulate fluid flow over aircraft perform wind tunnel and other
experiments and determine the aircraft performance characteristics
based on the external aerodynamic features and performance.

In other words, in aerodynamics, engineers use a combination of

theoretical calculations, computer simulations, and wind tunnel testing to
analyze the behavior of airflows and to optimize the shape and size of
the aircraft components. This includes the design of wings, control
surfaces, and other aerodynamic surfaces that provide lift, reduce drag,
and provide stability and control during flight.

Optimal aerodynamics is crucial to fuel efficiency of an aircraft.

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 AERODYNAMICS SPECIALIZATION
CONT’D

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD): is a simulation tool capable of

stimulating normal cruise condition. it deals with the development and
application of computational models and simulations.

CFD is an example of a specialty area. In this field, high-speed

computers solve mathematical equations that will show how a fluid, like
air, will flow around an object, like an airplane. In other words, solving
complex physical problems arising in aerospace analysis and design.

The computers produce a model of what will happen in certain flight

conditions. This saves time and money, and is a much lower risk than
building the airplane and then having a pilot try to fly it.

In many aerospace applications, computer simulations is essential to

business and research , as it provides an alternative to experimentation
when the latter is prohibitively expensive or simply not possible.

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 Guidance, Navigation and Controls (GNC)
Specialization

Engineers in this specialty develop instruments and software to control

the safe movement of vehicles, such as aircraft and spacecraft and
precision trajectory analysis of missiles and satellites.

Navigation and control: Design everything that make the aircraft

maneuverable and ensuring aircraft produce stable output from input
receive

Guidance refers to the process of providing instructions to the vehicle

to follow a specific trajectory or flight path. This involves the use of
sensors and other equipment to measure the vehicle's position and
speed, and to determine the direction and magnitude of any required
changes in the vehicle's trajectory.

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 Guidance, Navigation and Controls (GNC)
Specialization Cont’d

Navigation involves the use of sensors and instruments to determine the

vehicle's position, velocity, and orientation relative to the Earth or other
celestial bodies. This information is used by the guidance system to
determine the vehicle's trajectory and to make any necessary adjustments
to maintain the desired flight path.

Control involves the use of actuators and other devices to change the
vehicle's orientation, speed, and other parameters in order to maintain
the desired trajectory. This can include adjusting the vehicle's flight
surfaces, engines, and other components to control the vehicle's motion.

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 Structures and materials

Structures and materials engineers are responsible for creating a

strong, light and durable airframe that can house the avionics. flight deck
systems, passenger provisions and more. Structures and materials
engineers deal with the analysis and design of structures that support or
resist loads in flight as well as ground. A particularly important focus in
recent years is manufacturing newer, tougher and lighter materials such as
carbon fibers.

The use of advanced materials, such as carbon fiber composites, titanium

alloys, and other lightweight and strong materials, has enabled the
development of aircraft that are more fuel-efficient, faster, and more
reliable than ever before.

Engineers use mathematical models and computer simulations to analyze

the behavior of the aircraft structure under different loading conditions,
such as takeoff, landing, turbulence, and extreme weather. These models
and simulations allow engineers to identify potential areas of stress, strain,
and deformation in the structure and to evaluate the performance of the
structure under different conditions. 13
 PROPULSIONS SPECIALIZATION

Propulsion:

Propulsion engineer design the engines that provide aircraft, rockets,

missiles, satellites and other spacecraft with the means to accelerate/ for
thrust in the earth atmosphere and for launch or flight in space.

Propulsion specialist or engineer are responsible for designing ,testing

development and improvement of propulsion components and systems
for aircraft and spacecraft. This includes conventional chemical engines
used in rockets and turbofan or turbojet engines used in aircraft.
They are capable of designing next generation engines.

There is research and development in a new kinds of propulsions such

as hybrid rockets plasma propulsion for interplanetary space travel and
lightweight micro thruster technologies in small satellites.

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 Structural Design

Structural design: focus on the overall layout of the airplane. There is

an increased need for aerospace engineer who are knowledgeable and
trained in aircraft and spacecraft designing. Structural designing aims to
design weight and cost effective structures that can overcome external
and internal stress and forces caused by environmental force and human
use.

Design is the process of taking a creative idea or a need and turning it

into the blueprint for a new or improved product, such as landing gear
for an aircraft.

Design engineers have to consider the structure, arrangement, and

function of the object, whether it is an individual part or just one piece
of a larger object.

In the aerospace industry, designs have to conform to the rules of

aerodynamics or astrodynamics; they have to be able to work under
certain stresses and conditions.
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 Design Cont’d

For example, an engineer designing a new spacecraft would have to

study the possible effects of radiation in the space environment.

The design also has to consider other engineers involved, such as the
structural or production engineers who will eventually build the object.
Furthermore, the design also has to meet the needs of the people who
will ultimately buy and use the product.

To create their designs, engineers use computer-aided design/

computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) tools. With today technology
engineer can use CAD to design all part of an aircraft . For instance, the
layout of structure, control systems, electrical systems, fuel system and
the power plant.

Engineer can make scale drawing with design program that

manufacture then use to build the test aircraft. E.g., AutoCAD, turbo CAD,
autodesk inventor
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 AVIONICS SPECIALIZATION

Aerospace engineers who specializes in Avionics are called Avionics

Engineers. They design, test, and calibrate computer and electronic
communication panels.

Avionics engineers have many duties and responsibilities such as to

inspect, modify, install, maintain, repair and certify the electronic
equipment used on aircraft .

Avionics engineer carry-out installation and servicing of avionics equipment

including flight control systems, monitoring, navigation, communication,
weather and anti-collision systems and make sure that these systems
comply with National civil Aviation Authority requirements and
manufacturer’s specifications.

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 TEST and EVALUATION SPECIALIZATION

In a flight test, a new or modified aircraft or space vehicle goes through

specific maneuvers and flight conditions to see how well it meets the
design demands.

Propulsion, aerodynamics, thermal conditions, structures, stability and

control, performance, and vehicle systems are tested, monitored and
information about all of these factors are recorded.

Often, test engineers need to design special facilities to conduct the

testing, like wind tunnels or test chambers, or complex software models.

They ensure that the results mirror the real world. Qualified and
experienced pilots usually fly the aircraft, but test engineers design the test
plan and conduct the test program. The test results are carefully noted, and
the test engineer uses theories, concepts, and equations to analyze the
data and prepare flight reports.

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 FIELD SERVICE SPECIALIZATION

Training, maintenance, and service support is almost always required

after a product is developed and delivered to the customer.
Manufacturers want to make sure the customer gets the most from their
product.

Field service representatives work with the manufacturers and the

design engineers to fix any problems that might develop after the
product has been built. Field service duties require technical know-how,
expertise with the product, and the ability to work well with people.

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 EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS

Aerospace engineers are highly skilled professionals who design and develop
aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and other aerospace systems. They work in a
variety of industries, including government, defense, commercial aviation,
and space exploration.

It seems to be under common agreement that the aerospace activities (in

which aerospace engineers work) can be divided into seven groups
Franchini et al. :

The industry, manufacturer of products;

The airlines, transporters of goods and people;
The military air forces, demanders of high-level technologies;
The space agencies, explorers of the space;
The infrastructures on earth, supporter of air operations;
The research institutions, guarantors of technological progress;
The international organizations, providers of jurisprudence
.

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 Employment Options

There are different career path that a graduate of aerospace engineering

can choose from.

Aerospace engineers do have a place in research and development,

testing and maintenance, working with agencies, Nigerian government
and the educational sectors.

Regardless of where you work, you will be constantly challenged to learn.

Working for the Nigeria Government

A job with the Nigerian government means that you work for the best
interests of the Nigeria public. Most federal aerospace jobs are with :
NCAA- Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
NCAT - Nigerian College of Aviation Technology
NAMA- National airspace Management Agency

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 Employment Options
Working for Private Industry
Most private industry jobs within aerospace are found primarily within
the following segments: civil aviation, general aviation, military aircraft
and missiles, military and commercial launch vehicles, communication
satellites, etc.
Whichever segment you choose, you will be contributing to the
development of key next-generation products.

Working in Academia
Working as a university faculty member gives you the opportunity to
train the next generation of practicing aerospace engineers. E.g.
working in AFIT.

In addition, faculty at research universities are heavily involved with

developing new structures and materials, devices and systems,
analytical and computational techniques, design concepts, and
processes to improve both current and next-generation aerospace
products. 22
Benefit of working as Aeronautic
Engineer
Aerospace engineer enjoy a high paying salary that is even over 20%
more than other average fields.

There are job opportunities available in government , Research

agencies, defense, NCAA, Aeronautic laboratories, Government owned
air services, military and training institution.

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THANK YOU!!!

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