BANGALORE: The booming aviation sector has finally made its impact on academics. Realising the potential for jobs in the aeronautical arena, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has approved undergraduate BE Aeronautical Engineering courses in two colleges. The course was hitherto offered only as a postgraduate M.Tech programme by the Bangalore-based MVJ College of Engineering.

But the university has turned down a proposal to start the same course by the SCT Institute of Technology in Bangalore. After a visit by its Local Inspection Committee (LIC), the university chose not to give its green signal at least for now. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had, however, approved the course, sources said.

VTU sources told The Hindu that as the MVJ College had the infrastructure in place for the postgraduate course, it would be allowed to start the undergraduate programme from the next academic year with an intake of 60 students.

The Gulbarga-based Khwaja Banda Nawaz College of Engineering has been allowed to admit 60 students from next year. The required AICTE approval has been obtained.

For aviation buffs keen on getting an academic qualification beyond the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) certificate offered by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the State offered nothing till last year. The VTU's latest offer should change that.

M.Tech course

The two-year M.Tech in Aeronautical Engineering offered by the MVJ College since 2003-04 is as multi-discipline course open to engineering degree holders from various streams. Spread over four semesters, the course curriculum introduces the students to Aerospace Vehicles and Systems; Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics; Propulsion; Aircraft Structures and other related seminars.

The M.Tech syllabus was formulated by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). VTU and AICTE have approved an intake of 18 students for this postgraduate course.

For DGCA certification, students will have to opt for the AME training offered by two Bangalore-based institutes, the VSM Aerospace in Jakkur Layout and the Hindustan Aviation Academy in Marathahalli.

Across India, only 36 institutes have the DGCA approval.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail