The Scope Of Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Technology (AMET) In India

Clearing an engineering entrance examination or an architecture paper should not be spelled as the last word for a student pursuing Non-Medical. They are fresh science minds. Thus, like the commerce and arts streams, they too should have reliable alternative options to choose from.

Aircraft Maintenance is one such field. It entails understanding the minute details of an aircraft, its parts, and systems. It includes the outer periphery form, the engine, and other machinery parts.

If math and physics concepts, their understanding and applicability interest you, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering might well be your cup of tea.

Moreover, AME technology is the only certified course in India that apart from proper Mechanical Engineering or years of experience in the Aircraft Maintenance Industry makes you eligible to apply for the DGCA’s air maintenance licenses. AMET actually makes you the doctor of the aircraft. You shall thus, be required to cure its ailments, for its maintenance as well as to decide on its air-worthiness.

Let us now analyze its direct scope in the background of the Indian Aviation Industry:

• India is a developing country, and so is its aviation industry. More and More people are now choosing to fly the distance as and when possible. As a result, there is a never-before increase in the number of aircraft entering the Indian Airspace. This directly increases the number of jobs available in this field.
• Air-ticket fares are going down, and the number of flyers is constantly rising. The once-in-losses sector is now clocking phenomenal profits. Even the international aviation companies and investors are eyeing Indian aviation Industry as a good prospect. This directly increases the future prospects for the AMET’s required for maintaining their aircraft.
• Private Air-clubs could also become an option.Thus an AME course pass-out can also clock in working-hours at private air-clubs, working directly or in between shifts.
• National Forces may also hire your services. Since all our national defense forces, the military, naval as well and air employ aircraft of different types and size; they also require specialized Aircraft Maintenance engineers at all times to maintain their air-capabilities.
• It is a well-paying job. An aircraft is a heavy investment. Thus, the companies are always ready to pay good salaries to keep them well-maintained. As a result, the AME Technicians generally earn much more than a normal engineer or an architect.
• It is a hands-on job. Aircraft Maintenance technicians are required to enter the aircraft as and when they land and work as per maintenance routines and requirements. It thus means getting your hands in and dirty. For those who all are not a fan of the 9-to-6 computer office jobs, this could be an epitome choice.

The Seven Major Types Of Aircrafts Used By The United States Military

The United States military has seven categories of aircraft. They are: fighter, bomber, tanker, trainer, transport, ground attack, and surveillance. Sometimes the same model aircraft used for fighter operations will also be used for ground attack or even surveillance.

Fighter Aircrafts

A fighter is used mainly for attacking other aircraft. Fighters are small, fast and easily maneuvered. Fighters were developed during World War I in response the use of aircraft to drop bombs. The earliest fighters were wooden planes with only machine guns for weapons. Now fighters have missiles and a radar to track a target.

Bomber Aircrafts

A bomber is used to attack ground targets by dropping bombs. Within this category there are different types of bombers:

• Strategic Bombers-this type of bomber is used for long range missions against targets such as supply bases, bridges, roads, shipyards and other targets that will hurt an enemies ability to continue fighting
• Tactical Bombers-this type is used in conjunction with ground troops and is meant for shorter range missions
• Fighter Bombers-this type is used to fight both in the air and to hit ground targets

Tanker Aircrafts

This type of aircraft carries fuel and is equipped to refuel other aircraft while in flight. This allows for other aircraft to complete longer missions even in areas where they could not land and refuel.

Trainer Aircrafts

A trainer aircraft does just that, it trains pilots, navigators, and flight crews. Many trainers are two seat versions of combat crafts, and if needed can quickly be converted to be used in time of need.

Transport Aircrafts

Transport aircraft are also known as cargo aircraft and are designed to carry goods and troops. This type of aircraft has a many wheels that allow it to land in different locations, and has a large fuselage.

Ground Attack Aircrafts

This type of aircraft has numerous names including; attack aircraft, fighter-bomber, tactical fighter, tank buster and dive-bomber. It is made to be used close to the ground supporting ground operations. They are used to attack tanks and other targets in battle unlike the bombers which are used to attack strategic targets. This type of aircraft is usually signified by an “A” prefix. These planes are usually fighter planes or light bombers that have been moved to another use.

Surveillance Aircraft

This aircraft is used to watch enemy movements. They usually have no weapons. The first reconnaissance flight was performed in 1912, and the practice quickly caught on during World War I. Today there are unmanned surveillance aircraft that are remotely controlled, known as UAVs in development.

Military aircraft are a vital part of military efforts and will continue to be used and developed despite low funding.

What It Was Like To Be Up In The Admiral’s Quarters On The Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz

I was in the navy for 8 years, and had the privilege of flying up to Bremerton Washington with some other people from my squadron. I was an enlisted yeoman, but had sea experience, because I was stationed on a submarine tender and a destroyer. My Skipper asked me if I wanted to fly up with him and work with him taking care of the secret message board, and any other things he might need, which of course I had to say yes.

We flew up to this little airport, and we were informed on the planes overhead speaker, that the airport had never had a plane of this size land at their airport before, so they had the local fire department, and rescue waiting just in case, and that was pretty wild landing and seeing all the fire trucks waiting just in case, and everything went fine!

I was used to smaller ships. A submarine tender usually has a crew of roughly 1,300 people, and a destroyer usually has a crew of roughly 300 or so at any time. The Nimitz did not have most of their squadrons and attachments on board, but they still had some. All night long the planes were taking off the deck from the catapult, and the first time I heard it and felt it, I could not believe it was so loud, and it felt like it moved the ship some in the water.

The ship was so gigantic inside. When I went into the hangar bay, it was like a stadium, the size of it, just so big. When I would have to walk from one end of the ship to the other, there are so many hatches, and you have to lift your legs up over them to get threw, and it is a ton of them all the time.

We were out to sea, and the ship would be heading back down to San Diego. We pulled out of Washington, and when we were out to sea, my skipper asked me if I wanted to see how the Admiral and the Chief of Staff live on board, since they were not on this cruise, all the rooms were empty, but my skipper was using one of them.

I was used to being with the regular guys on the ships I came from. Even on the carrier, it was 3 bunks high. And maybe 300 guys in my compartment. Way to many people for me actually. I prefer the Cadillac ride of a destroyer!

The skipper gave me a tour of all the staterooms, the person spaces, private showers, private kitchens, with home style refrigerators, stoves, personal chefs from the ship, everything an executive would need. Everything was military issue, but it was spectacular actually. On the ship, on most of the levels, those are spaces that are meant for everyone. Up higher, they call that Officer’s Country, where only the officers are supposed to be, unless you are on business.

On top of the ship, they call that Flag Country, and That is where the Admiral, the CO and XO, Chief of Staff, those sort of people hang out. If your an officer, you should not be up their unless you are on business also. This is the room we work out of.

Most of the time the top brass are always so serious and everything that is a drill, seams so real to them, because it has to be. But sometimes, they guys are cracking jokes, or making fun of the junior officers, and I’m the only guy in the room that is just their. One time in m squadron that had the tail hook problems in Vegas, had a picture up of a female LT officer, and they were taking turns throwing darts at the picture, which she never knew anything about, and she was married to a full bird Captain at the time.

Alternative Energy Uses In The Military

Most governments and corporations are looking at alternative energy strategies to produce power without the use of fossil fuels, all trying to curb their emissions of CO2. But, you’d be surprised that most militaries are also using alternative energy strategies, and it makes sense because a military moves on its fuel and food for its personnel.

Anyone that studies military history knows just how critical this is. Not long ago, a technologist interviewed me and asked about alternative energy exploits for war planners. Let’s talk.

Daniel asks: “Will we see the use of alternative energies in the military industry?”

Yes, of course. A couple of reasons;

(1) The push for Climate Change is sending lots of research dollars into alternative energy, and the militaries of the world need energy, it takes a lot of energy to run a Navy, Army, or Air Force. Hint: Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carriers and Submarines. As these alternative energy innovations come into fruition and can compete with fossil fuels on cost, we will see much more of them, and;

(2) Consider that. Like the radar signature on a stealth aircraft, having a smoke stack smoking up a storm on a large ship – like the Russian Aircraft Carrier Admiral Kuznetsov (old smokey – quite embarrassing) – it gives up its position pretty quickly.

Right now, we must realize that oil prices are low and fossil fuels have a lot of energy packed into those little molecules, and that’s hard to beat for powerful afterburners. If oil prices go back up, that will be reason number 3.

As far as biofuels go, we are a ways off, and the cost is way too high to justify, but who knows in the future, maybe some brilliant genius will take home a Nobel Prize for figuring it out, that would be a game- changer. When it comes to solar, well, the prices have really come down and the efficiency has really gone up.

That along with battery performance – improving duration, lowering weight, faster re-charging, and lower overall costs due to scaled up production – we can be assured more use of solar power in militaries across the planet, but only when it makes sense and if it works – remember when it comes to the military it’s all about operational readiness, and a foot soldier who has dead batteries, could end up dead.

Hydrogen Fueled military equipment makes a lot of sense, and yes there are technological challenges there too, but those will get worked out in private industry because there are so many potential applications from transportation to home use and beyond.

Still, at the end of the day militaries need what works, and they need it now, if they want to win, political correctness seems quite trivial when you are fighting a war with life and death in the balance, so reality takes front seat. If alternative energies can do it cheaper, more efficient and require less logistics for a moving army, you can bet they will be part of the mix of technologies, count on it.