There are engineering options galore

There are engineering options galore

Mumbai: Post class XII Science. students can optmedicine or engineering, but one can also look at the choices below to take up professions that are specialised.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
In today's jet age air travel is no more a luxury but more of a necessity. Whether it's a day conference in another city or a business trip across countries millions are using the air travel every day. It is to ensure the safety of these passengers that aircraft has to be in its peak condition to fly. So while you’re fastening your seat belt, seated in the isle, preparing for take off, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers or AMEs are at their busiest, checking and rechecking the plane to ensure utmost safety of the passengers travelling.
This is a profession with great responsibility on the technicians. It is on these personnel that the safety of the aircraft, crew and passengers is depending on.
To get there: Aspiring AMEs should bear in mind that unlike the other engineering careers, the road to this profession is not through acquiring a degree or a diploma. The training for the career involves completing the syllabus prescribed by the Director General for Civil Aviation (DGCA). Students should also check if the institute they are applying to is approved by the DGCA. To be thoroughly trained, students will require a lot of practical sessions so, apart from the certification by DGCA, students should also verify if the institute has their own aircraft, which kind of aircraft will they be exposed to, workshops and seminars, a check on faculty and instructors is also important.
The ideal candidates for this threeand half years duration course are those students who have scored an aggregate of 50% with a PCM (Physics, Chemistry and Maths) in the class XII Science exams.
On the job:An AME holds the responsibility of making sure that aircrafts are in the best condition to fly.They help to keep the aircraft in peak operating condition and perform regular maintenance checks and make repairs as and when required.
Some individuals may have the impression that this is a low paying job, dirty and greasy, not lucrative compared to a pilot career, or other negative concept. This is not true, in fact some of the aircraft maintenance engineering jobs pays as much as an airline captain's salary. The bigger the responsibility the better the salary. And that makes this profession not only challenging but a lucrative one.
Fire Engineer
Whether it is high rises in metros or industrial plants, all need a plan of actionincase there is a fire in its premises. In today's firefighting services, there are many opportunities that go beyond just curbing or controlling the fire. For those with an interest in a more managerial or leading position, the job of a fire engineer could satisfy their career aspirations.
Fire engineering is a field which explores the various possibilities of preventing fires. It can be defined as the art and science of designing buildings and facilities for life safety and property protection in the event of an uncontrolled fire. This includes the application of scientific and engineering principles, based on an understanding the phenomena and effects of fire and of reaction and behaviour of people, property and the environment as well as the impact of fire protection systems including detection, alarm and sprinkler systems.
To get there: Fire engineering is a very dangerous profession which requires a strong sense of commitment to public service. The role of fire engineers span engineering design to operations and management. The National Fire Service College at Nagpur offers India's major fire engineering programme. The three and half years course leads to a BE degree in Fire Engineering. The course is open to students who have completed their BSc degree course with Chemistry and either Physics or Math as optional subjects. A diploma courses is also offered by many other institutes across India, for which the eligibility is HSC with PCM as optional subjects.
Practical fire fighting is also included in three and half years course. There are also certain minimum required physical standards that aspiring Fire Engineers must qualify in; for instance, height, weight, age etc.
On the job: In active fire fighting and supervisory roles a fire engineer's work is hazardous but in administrative and research; there is usual office work. They may work with various kinds of organisations and may or may not be dealing with hazardous substances. For instance, a fire engineer may be employed in a more protective role at large establishments which require a lot of safety checks, updating of equipment and conducting scheduled and surprise fire drills.
While maintaining the standard of technical expertise, it is important for a fire engineer to have the required physical and psychological qualities as well. A sense of self discipline, physical condition, presence of mind to handle crises situations also to stay calm in those situations are all important qualities that a fire engineer needs to possess.
He should be able to work as a member of a team and be ready to do a variety of tasks including fire-fighting, and rescue methods and equipment.

Plastic Engineer
Plastics industry makes products for both industrial and domestic use. Though thought of as a danger to the already deteriorating environment with many opting for options beyond plastic, the industry seems to be projecting an upward growth. The industry clears its name by stating that it is infact conserving natural resources. For instance, by using eco-friendly plastic crates instead of wooden crates, we can save more than 7 lakh trees annually.
In a sector that is still waiting to bloom, Plastic Engineers play an important role. So does a plastic engineer do? He deals with taking apart of raw materials like coal tar, coal, petrol, natural gas and salt; then rearranging their molecules to make synthetic materials. As professionals, plastic engineers may work in design and development, research, consulting services, marketing and even teaching.
To get there: Plastic engineering is a four year degree programme after class XII with PCM as optional subjects. Admission to the course is through the usual engineering admission procedures either all India or state level exams.
There are other professional training programmes for the plastics industry like diploma courses in Plastic Mould Technology, Plastics Mould-Making Technology, Plastics Composite Technology, Plastics Processing Technology. Apart from this, depending upon one's level of basic education, and more importantly area of interest; professionals working in the industry may specialise in plastics engineering, polymer science and technology, plastics processing, plastics testing and conversion technology.
On the job: For a plastic engineer, his workplace largely depends on the role he plays in the industry. Someone involved with pure research and development, design, technical services will probably spend his working day in a laboratory/ factory, while those with a consulting and marketing role will work in an office environment combined with a lot of travelling.

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