On improving the training of aircraft engineers

Abstract

Subject. The article continues the discussion about the method of training aircraft engineers to work in the military and civil segments of aviation and rocket-and-space industry. Objectives. The purpose is to improve the training of Russian engineers to work in the competitive market environment, on the basis of the analysis of experience in training the aviation engineers in leading foreign technical universities. Methods. The study rests on the comparative analysis of implementation of major projects in the military and civil segments of aviation in the U.S. and Russia, as well as programs for training aircraft engineers in both countries. Results. The analysis shows that the duration of modern large military aviation projects in both countries is the same (the comparison of cost is impossible, due to information protection in Russia), while in the civil segment of the aviation industry, Russia's lagging behind is significant both in terms of the duration of projects and performance results. One of the reasons is in the poor training of aircraft engineers to work in the competitive environment. Conclusions. It is crucial to reform Russian aviation universities in terms of conformity to global trends in multidisciplinarity and differentiation of financing and research base.