Am I honestly a retard???

[UnAnswerd]

I just finished the FAA regulations in ground school, and we're moving on to aspects that deal with aircraft performance. One of the first things we did was cover density altitude, and figure such altitudes given a list of known factors. I completely understand the concepts, and also understand how to figure density altitute. The problem arrose when I needed to divide some numbers, and I said I would need a calculator. My GS instuctor looked at me kind of strange, and said "you can't figure it on paper"? I said that I had completely forgotten how to divide numbers without the use of a calculator. This did not seem to sit well with her. She went on to question me about what I wanted to do with my flying!!! She said that if I ever wanted to fly professionaly, that I should take a basic math course!!! So at this point I feel like a total retard, and all I can do is give some excuse about using calculators since 5th grade...

Now I know that I SHOULD be able to divide numbers on paper, but does anyone think she was just a little over the top? I mean, I was under the impression that you could bring a calculator to the written exam? I really do not see why it is so alarming that I simply cannot divide numbers on paper. I've seen pilots use electronic E6B's, and yet I can't use a $2 calculator?

Would really appreciate some honest advise on this.

 

[bigD]

Yeah, you're a retard.


I'm kidding! While I generally think it's nice to be able to manually do long multiplication and division, I think your instructor is overreacting.

 

[Northern Lights]

Any density altitude problems that I've ever had to figure out could be done on the E6B. Not sure what she wanted you to do, but it sounds like she was being a bit crabby.

Also, while flying it seems like most math is rules of thumb, or rounding off to make it easier. Like the 3-6 rule etc.

 

[KPTPK]

She's being a typical b#@*h. She has no right giving you any grief. You have what....roughly 4hrs of flight maybe a little more by now? She's might be a little upset that she's not flying with the airlines. The majority of the females I know in aviation that are teaching ground school, compared to sitting left seat in some kind of jet are slim to none. She might have emotional issues. Which school are you going to?

 

[paulsalem]

Your 20 miles out from the airport at 10,000 feet. Field Elevation is 1,000 feet. Your doing 120kts accross the ground (or is the ground doing 120kts under you?) anyway, when do you start your descent. By the way its night time, so you can't see the keys of your calculator, and its solar powered.


See the need for division. And this is just the tip of the iceburg.

 

[Uncle Sparky]

I'd like to talk to your instructor! You may be a bit rusty but it sounds to me like her social skills may be lacking.
Here's a better response(cut and paste it to her forehead for me!): "...although I've always been taught that whatever resources will be available to you in the actual aircraft can be used during training as well, I would recommend sitting down for a couple of hours and working out some of these problems. The ability to do these problems in your head can be a big asset to your personal skills and in turn lessen your physical workload in flight. And I would also consider some of the "Murphys" of your current method. What happens if you forget or drop your calculator during the flight or the batteries go dead? .......YOU RETARD!! .... Sorry just kidding......couldn't help myself?! Everything prior to "go dead" is honest advice. Negative reinforcement can be a good teaching tool (personally, I don't like it) but the student needs have their confidence level maintained or even boosted through this process. In my opinion, she has failed in this department.

 

[Goose Egg]

I'm going to go with Paul on this one. Not only will you have to do division on paper, you'll have to do it in your head. Although, I do think that your instructor may be overreacting a bit--some minor math issues (alone) at this point in your training aren't going to sink you.


Goose

 

[User546]

Your 20 miles out from the airport at 10,000 feet. Field Elevation is 1,000 feet. Your doing 120kts accross the ground (or is the ground doing 120kts under you?) anyway, when do you start your descent. By the way its night time, so you can't see the keys of your calculator, and its solar powered.

Well, I'd reach over and turn on the overhead light so I could see my calculator. That or if I was in a smaller GA airplane, I would turn on one of my two handy flashlights I always carry.

Math is not my strongest skill, and although I could do it on paper if I had to, using a calculator is MUCH faster, and MUCH more accurate then me putting pen to paper.

The important thing is that you know the proper formulas to get the information - what tools you use is your own business.

 

[bigD]

Your 20 miles out from the airport at 10,000 feet. Field Elevation is 1,000 feet. Your doing 120kts accross the ground (or is the ground doing 120kts under you?) anyway, when do you start your descent. By the way its night time, so you can't see the keys of your calculator, and its solar powered.


See the need for division. And this is just the tip of the iceburg.

Maybe I'm giving this guy too much credit, but I don't think this is the kind of division that he's talking about. Your example uses nice round numbers that are trivial to deal with in your head. I think he's thinking of math problems more along the lines of, "Total moment is 264,614.16, and your weight is 2257.8, what's your CG? Whaddya mean you need a calculator? To be a professional, you need to be able to do it on paper!"

 

[Goose Egg]

Well, I'd reach over and turn on the overhead light so I could see my calculator. That or if I was in a smaller GA airplane, I would turn on one of my two handy flashlights I always carry.

Actually, the Garmin 430 will do it for you too, but some basic math isn't going to kill the kid.

-Goose