Career Prospect for Aeronautical Engineering in Malaysia
By Zul • Feb 25th, 2008 • Category: Career •
Without doubt, there is high demand for engineering specialization, and Aeronautical is not spared. Perhaps with the sending of our first angkasawan into the space, many students now aspire to be in the aerospace and aeronautical field. First of all, Aeronautical Engineering is a sub-branch of Aerospace Engineering, which is related to aircrafts, spacecrafts and related topics.
Generally, Aerospace Engineering is defined as engineering work that deals with crafts leaving the atmosphere, while Aeronautical deals with crafts staying within the earth’s atmosphere. Some of the scientific topics covered in Aeronautical Engineering course are Aerodynamic, Control System, Materials, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Aircraft Structures. Aerospace and Aeronautical industry in Malaysia are still considered new especially when design, research and development are concerned. Despite the country’s achievement to become the 14th country in the world who managed to send an astronaut in the space, Malaysia is way lacking behind in terms of technology and development.
UTM or Universiti Teknologi Malaysia is the first institution in Malaysia that offered Aeronautical Engineering course with the introduction of Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering in 1980, a joint program with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). Then, the degree Aeronautical Engineering course was introduced, which is an area of specialization in Mechanical Engineering. Apart from providing the education courses, with its long presence, UTM is considered one of the best institutions that can provide students with facilities for research and development. My brother in law is one of those who completed a Degree in Mechanical Engineering, majoring in Aeronautical in UTM.
Another government initiative to support the aviation need in Malaysia is the collaboration between Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) under the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development and Northrop Rice Institute USA Inc. In the partnership, Northrop Rice Institute was assigned as the technology provider for development of aircraft maintenance technology. The initial set was in Jasin, Melaka and with the growth and increasing demand, a new facility was designed and completed in 2002, which takes place in Dengkil, Selangor. It is now known as Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (MIAT). Additionally, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has their own School of Aerospace Engineering which offer two specializations - Aeronautical Engineering and Astronautical Engineering.
In February 2008, AirAsia Berhad and TAFE College in Seremban signed a memorandum that is tailored to initiate AirAsia support program, which includes the use of TAFE’s workshop facilities used to complete training in basic engineering skills. The memorandum will also see how TAFE college can assist to accommodate the long term need of aircraft maintenance engineer training. AirAsia adopt more than 60 modules of training programs, which enable the trainee engineers to qualify as licensed aircraft maintenance engineers who are recognized both by European and international standard.
With the recent happenings and news, it looks as if the market for the Aeronautical and Aerospace is booming. However, a little research on the job outlook and prospect for Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering reveals otherwise. A search in JobStreet.com, presently the largest recruitment portal in Malaysia, to find jobs with the keyword ‘aeronautical’ or ‘aerospace’ today only resulted 2 related jobs. Both vacancies are advertised by Avcen Limited Malaysia which belongs to a foreign company specializing in aircraft design having its main headquarter based in London, United Kingdom. Similar search conducted with JobsDb.com and JenJobs.com produced zero result.
So what does this tell us?
It gives an indication that Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering related courses will potentially present a challenge to an aspiring engineering wishing to go into the said specialization. However, all is not over yet. Since Aeronautical and Aerospace themselves are branches of engineering field, it is highly likely that some specific subjects and syllabus covered during your studies can be made good use in other specializations. For example, design, maintenance, control, material, fluid mechanics, aerodynamics and others are useful in other fields such as structural, civil, utility and even Formula 1. In case of my brother in-law, he did not get a job with in Aeronautical related company, but ended up as an engineer with the national utility company, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, TNB.
Aviation companies like AirAsia and MAS (Malaysia Airlines System) periodically advertise engineering related positions in their websites, many of which requiring people with Aeronautical background. Also, it is worth to note that Aeronautical is an important element in defense, particularly military air. Many local engineering entities related to aircrafts and Aeronautical are initiated and founded by those who served the Royal Malaysia Armed Forces before.
Other posts you may want to read:
- 5 Popular Engineering Career and Jobs
- Malaysia Space University in the Making?
- MMU’s Doctor of Engineering Program
- HM Aerospace Pilot Training School
- Cadet Pilots Intake for GGIFA Flying School
i have finished my engg in mechanical ………i wanted to do some specialization course in air craft engg….
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hi..im spm 2007 cndidte..& i would like 2 frther my s2d in aerospace or aeronautical engnrng..but..accrding to my uncle..he advsd me 2 s2d in US..so my question is..how im going to s2d in US??i mean what i must do to s2d in US..who i need to meet..please help me..
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aku reply on March 26th, 2008:
ko pegi la uk kat glamorgan..wat foundation kt sane trus pahtu amik degree dpt license easa
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hi, i am spm 2007 cndidte, i kind of blur right now, i dont know what course to choose. Can i know what i can do if i obtain my diploma in mechanical engineering. What type of work can i do if i obtain a diploma in mechanical engineering. how much is the basic pay for a diploma holder for mechanical engineering. i hope you can reply me as fast as possible. i need your help………… please……………
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hi…. i wan 2 ask bout aircraft engineering courses in m’sia.. im kind blur rite nw tat tafe college’s diploma certificate in aircraft is valueable o nt 4 degree ..if i stop in diploma hw bout d job n salary can b earn??? pls help meeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!
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I am a student in UTM, study Mchanical-Aeronautic. In your opinion, did i have an oppurtunity to start my carrer in aeronautics field ?
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Zul reply on May 12th, 2008:
Yes, why not.
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I want to ask that when i finished study in Mechanical-Aeronautic in UTM, can i get how much salary min in 1 month (if i had a job which relate aeronautic) ?? can u tell me?? 10q
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Hi,i am anand here….im gonna do diploma in aeronautical engineering…..i want 2 know how much salary
for aeronautical engineer……..pls tolong….
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unknown reply on July 14th, 2008:
i’m not very sure..but it’s all depend on the company you are working..my field is avionics, so this is all i can share.you can get around RM10k if you are a licensed aircraft engineer(maybe more).you will know better once you enter this field.some company does offer good pay if you have multi-category license which means you can sign for all electrical job except compass.they can pay about RM25k.but it’s not that easy to get a license.several phase must be taken.step by step..if you got determination,why not..and the job is yours man.
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im from math major…is it possible to further on this field??
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unknown reply on July 14th, 2008:
nothing impossible..it needs effort..
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unknown reply on July 14th, 2008:
yes you can..nothing impossible
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Hello i want to ask which company take fresh mekanikal aeronautikal enginer in malaysia ? I from UTM
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im metallurgical engineering student from local university. I really interested to the aeronautical & aerospace field.Is there any opportunities that i cn join this field for as future career?
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im currently doing my higher national diploma in mechanical engineering under group of lagenda college mantin….my aim is continue my degree in aircraft engineering….so for that i need a nice good explanation about that course…i want know …where i can continue my degree course on aircraft…then i want know the daitails about the college or university……so i think in future i can be a aircraft maintanance engineering….so thank u ..and plzz help me ….
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Zul reply on July 18th, 2008:
Get advice from the career office. And do some internet research.
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ive ben hearing rumuours that no 1 gts a job in malaysia for this field of engineering ive been told tat 1 must go 2 u.s to do further studies and find a job at there te same time. so is tis true and 1 more ting wat kind of companies offer tis job cuz 1 dont hav 1 in my list
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Zul reply on July 18th, 2008:
Don’t bank on this
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since so many students are flocking into the aeronautical field in various institutes which offers this course
such as utm , tafe , miat and nilai international college, what are the possibility of all the graduates who graduate from this field being successfully employed.. further more mas n airasia are independently recruiting and training their candidates(if i’m correct)… moreover increasing fuel price is causing major setback to the airline industries which may lead to bankruptcy of certain airlines in the worst case scenario.. so can some1 advice me regarding the job employment prospect of this field in malaysia.. dont you think that the jobseekers in this field will get saturated to the amount of vacancies in this career.. it’ll b gr8 if some1 would kindly clear my doubts.. thank u ..
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smaelz83 reply on September 11th, 2008:
Let’s not just look at MAS and AirAsia.. please also look at their vendors… company that do maintenance and overhaul for aircraft parts… Let’s see in malaysia.. they are many companies like this.. Hamilton Sundstrand, High Standard Aviation, Sepang Aircraft Engineering, Spirit Aerosystems and more others… please do search in internet and exhibitions…
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hai.. im still doing my diploma in mechatronics engg..
can i do my degree in aircraft engg?…
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Zul reply on September 10th, 2008:
This should not be a problem.
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im taking dip. aroneutic…i wanna be a pilot..what is my next step after i finish my dip?
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chopper reply on November 16th, 2008:
if u want to be a pilot,just apply for any flying school in malysia…no need for ur diploma in aeronautic n so on..its all no need….ur spm result most important..get a1 in physics,english,n ur dream mayb come true…now,i’m also a cadet pilot by sponsor on malaysia airlines
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i’m an undergraduate student, now i’m still studying at matriculation college. i’d like to continue my studies after finished my 1 year diploma program. i preferably choose the course of aeronautical engineering, i wonder what should i do to get this courses, what are the qualification needed?
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im a form 4 student in alor setar. i wonder to know about aeronautical engineering so that i could choose a correct pathway of my life. what is the qualification needed ? what are the universities providing this course? how about the loans ans scholarships?
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The several comments I’ve read above on becoming a Licensed Aircraft Engineer have tossed me to form my opinion of the decline in the English standard. The command of English among the commenters here are below average. In fact, I’d say young graduates have trouble getting their ideas across in languages other than their own. And yet, you are so keen to becoming a Licensed Aircraft Engineer.
To be accepted by DCA, you also need to pass your essay test and the oral test conducted by the members of the DCA as well as your 17 papers throughout the course.
I wish you all luck and all the best for those who are interested to pursue their study in this field..
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