Careers in Aerospace
What is aerospace?
The aerospace industry is responsible for designing, manufacturing, operating and maintaining civil, military and dual-use aircraft, spacecraft and their respective parts (e.g.: engines, flight instruments, landing gears). Basically, aerospace is anything that has to do with aircraft and spacecraft.
The industry relies heavily on electronics. Frequent advances in electronics mean constant changes in the aerospace industry. Computer aided design and manufacture (CAD and CAM) has brought about major changes in aircraft production. The time required for operations has been cut; often by more than half. Investment in research and development (R&D) has introduced new materials and advanced ways for improving the understanding of aerodynamics. In turn, this helps improve the performance and efficiency of aircraft.
Aerospace Industry's Structure
In general, the Canadian Aerospace industry includes:
- aircraft and engine manufacturing
- components and parts manufacturing
- aircraft maintenance
- airframe repair and overhaul
- avionics electronics and information systems
- precise machining and metal fabrication
- composites and exotic metals component production
- specialty coatings
- space satellites
- simulation
- training
- testing
- consulting services
Aerospace also includes airlines, military, civil aviation and other buyers and users of aerospace goods and services.
Aircraft manufacturers with a full systems-integration capability (ability to put together different sub–components, such as wings, landing gears and flight instruments, to produce an aircraft) make up the first tier of companies in the aerospace and defence sectors. The end products these companies produce are fully functional passenger aircraft, helicopters and business jets.
Second-tier subsystem and subassembly manufacturers have a wide range of complementary and specialized capabilities. Each company produces its own unique good (different from products that other companies produce). Manufacturers of this group produce flight instruments, landing gears, environmental control system controllers and so on.
Third-tier firms produce components or subassemblies (eg: aerospace fasteners, aircraft position and motion sensors, etc.).
Did you know?
- The quality of Canada's aerospace workers is among the highest in the country and the world.
- 1000 new jobs in Canada's aerospace industry creates about 500 jobs elsewhere.
- Presently, many Canadian aerospace companies can't find qualified people in Canada and are hiring foreigners.
Answers to more questions?
- Why choose a career in aerospace?
- What kind of jobs are there in the industry?
- What kind of people is the industry looking for?
- How do I get on track?
- Are there links to organizations?
Are your interests and aptitudes matched with a career in aerospace?
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