Mythical Aerospace Industry
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Although engineering remains a popular career choice despite its tough nature, aerospace engineering still remains as the one that most of us are trying to avoid in pursuing a career. Consequently, other engineering disciplines such as computer engineering, electrical and chemical engineering are favored. As a result this has proven to be a disaster to the aerospace industry. With the majority trying to runaway from even considering a career in aerospace, the aerospace is losing many of its world-class engineers right from the beginning. One of the catalysts for such a phenomenon is that there are numerous myths surrounding the industry. With such myths floating in the air, many are having a mental block psychologically to even consider a career in aerospace which impedes the growth of the industry.
According to Air Force Doctrine Document dated 17/2/2004, aerospace is defined as “of, or relating to, the total expanse beyond the earths surface”. Interpreting from the definition, aerospace is related to objects or vehicles traveling through the air or space. Although many people have a misconception that air and space is the same, the fact is that both are two distinct entities. So, the aerospace industry can further be specialized into traveling in air and space. As air and space are totally different entities, the technology involved in both sections of the industry is totally different although there might some overlapping ideas. Whereas, the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2003 defines aerospace engineering as field of engineering dealing with the design and manufacture of aircraft and spacecraft, and including the launch and recovery of spacecraft for space exploration.
One of the popular notions about the aerospace industry is that there is no job marketability. According to popular science magazine, many big private companies are now making an entry into the aerospace industry whereas the smaller companies are considering of making an entry. With more companies getting involving, obviously there is going to be an increase in the job market.. Other than that, many steps are taken on the side of government to make more companies get involved in aerospace. For example, the X-prize competition has brought out some companies to get involved in the competition and vie for a place in history. With such encouragement there is going to be an increase in companies in the industry which in return going to result in the job market increasing.
The second myth surrounding the aerospace industry is that it is in a low-time. So, pursuing a career in it is not going to rip any benefit. While it is a fact that the industry currently in its down-time, but that does not mean it should be avoided. Instead, Professor Michael Bragg who is the head of aerospace department at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, is viewing it as a perfect time to get things going in the industry. He adds by justifying his statement by stating that with the industry in its low-time it can only improve reminiscing how he entered the industry in 1973 where the similar situation occurred. The other fact is that the current trend in aerospace industry is being reversed. After failing to a 50 year lowest industry employment in February 2004, there has been a steady increase after that (Aerospace Industry Employment Increases After Falling to 50-Year Low, 18/8/2004). This proves that aerospace industrys woes are disappearing giving no room for the myth.
Other than that, many believe that pursuing a career in aerospace lacks versatility of job nature unlike other engineering principles such as electrical engineering and computer engineering. Professor Michael Bragg states that aerospace engineers do not only work with spacecrafts or aircraft
. He further adds that now many products are being consideration in their design which creates opportunity for aerospace engineers. He pinpoints that some of his students who have been hired in the car designing departments. While many still think that aerospace is to related aircraft
and spacecrafts, now many car manufacturers consider the aerodynamic aspect in their designing process. Similarly, aerospace engineers are preferred for these jobs. The sports automobile industry like Formula 1 and Formula 3000 also provides expanded versatility to aerospace engineers. Strangely enough, even ball manufacturers have opted for aerospace engineers in their designing process.
Another well known notion about aerospace industry is that a career in aerospace industry is not as lucrative yet remains demanding as other engineering principles. This is a completely artificial statement. The aerospace industry generates the largest trade surplus of any manufacturing industry in the United States with $48 billion in 1998 (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, 2003). As a result, aerospace industry has always remained in the “big” league. It is the misconception that has been floating around that has made it seem not lucrative as other careers. Despite even its low-time, it has remained to be the most lucrative and money plunging industry. With such amount of money playing around, there is no reason for aerospace industry to be not lucrative. But the fact is that in a highly competitive field as aerospace just earning a degree is not going to give the best available option in the industry. Because of its highly competitive nature, one obviously cannot expect the best and the most lucrative