Pilot's and Math

[pilotyip]

Observsations

We give a mini SAT type of test in our pilot screening. The best predictor on a candidates success in making Captain, is their math score. If it is high, it is unlikely that pilot will have any problems in upgrade or F/O ground school and flight training. With the guys in one STD DEV or more above the norm, we have had 1 failure in 5 years, in the group 1 STD DEV or more below the norm, about a 35% failure rate. It has nothing to do with a 4 yr degree, we have had non-college grads score higher than college grads from the major aviation schools. Your linear thinking ability is probably the best predictor on your aviation success potential.

 

[Purple Haze]

Re: Pilot math

...am I ok for now? What about things like English and history? Does a pilot have to know allot of that? (please say no.) What is this FL 530- Math? Is it some specific math book geared towards pilots? That would be great because I'm always looking for books that has to do with my career.

First off, I am a math cripple; and second, yes you are ok for now. The replies have been great. The detail that seems to be missing is that you will often have to do multiple calculations very quickly, under pressure, while doing other things - like flying the airplane, running a checklist, making radio calls, not busting an altitude or airspeed, not overspeeding your flaps or gear, picking up the pen or corn dog you just dropped, while getting the anti-ice turned on and remembering the minimum power setting you must maintain for it to function. My point: The math will never be very complex unless you become involved in engineering or flight test; however, your brain must be conditioned to do basic math through division and VERY BASIC algebra in very stressful conditions. Classroom math does little to prepare you for this, but since the brain is a muscle, conditioning it with college level math will give you the best foundation you can get.

English and history: You will get all you need in the pursuit of a 4-year degree. In college you will have to write research papers, which will require some knowledge of English.
FL 530 math??? No. There is a book called Mental Math for Pilots - by Ronald D. McElroy, but you don't need it (now or ever).

The big exception to the above is military flying. Someone mentioned the book "Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators." If you aspire to fly in the military, you will have to survive flight school academics - which moves pretty quickly. I just took a peek at the aero book and got a nasty shot of stomach acid which reminded me of that grossly unpleasant experience. If you plan to go military, "Mo' math is mo' betta."

I am encouraged to see a young guy with a plan who is getting the job done. Best of luck to you - there will be many bumps along the way. Hang tough.

 

[exeagle]

My condolences to all of Hawker Rider's copilots.

 

[metrodriver]

I think English should be a must. Sometimes I have a very hard time reading some of the posts, like it's written in some foreign language. I feel sorry for the mechanics that have to read the write-ups, hopefully the correct problem will get fixed.
The most common ones I see: site / sight and there / their.
Site has to do with a place: web site, burial site. Sight has to do with vision: eye sight, gunsight.
There has to do with a place: I'm going there. Their is possessive: these are their belongings.
Their is a web sight of a company, there airplanes are such a sorry site

 

[dmspilot00]

Singlecoil, you're right, but I meant you won't "need" to do that routinely or while simulataneously flying the airplane.

Algebra 1, 2 and Trig at the high school level are good. The only benefit of taking a higher math than that would be because your basic algebra and trig skills would improve. With every math class you take you will need the material and skills that you learned (or were supposed to learn) in your previous math classes. It is not that the math is complex; it's not. There's just a lot of it and you have to be good at the simple stuff. Just like the difference between a posessive word such as "Pilot's" and a plural one such as "Pilots." Simple, but you need to know it nonetheless.

I think English should be a must. Sometimes I have a very hard time reading some of the posts, like it's written in some foreign language.

I agree, look at the title of the thread! My pet peeve is when people put an apostrophe after a word to make it plural. Come on!

We give a mini SAT type of test in our pilot screening. The best predictor on a candidates success in making Captain, is their math score.

What kind of math do you test? Can you give us a sample of one of the harder problems?

 

[CatYaaak]

....and actually all the co-pilots I have flown with are absolutely very poor at it, and I do not allow calculators in the cockpit..(etc)..

Let me guess....you go through a lot of co-pilots, don't you? Like, a revolving door?

 

[Simon Says]

All the trig that needs to be done can be done on the DG (now on the face of the RMI) Other than that a simple time calculator can be used to figure out your logbook.

Give me a break.....keep the math on the ground and the rules of thumb in the air.

 

[FL530]

Thanks everyone!

 

[dmspilot00]

All the trig that needs to be done can be done on the DG

Huh? Do you know what trig is?

 

[bobbysamd]

Educational quals

II have really harped myself on trig and algebra and I think I may have reached my peak level of math. At least I hope so, so that is what I want to know. The last type of math I was working on was trig identities. I have basically covered all the trig there is for high school anyways. I have done allot of vector problems that involve airplanes . . . . I'm also pretty fluent in physics . . . Stuff like electrical and chemistry I know allot of. I hope this will do it.

I believe that you are on the right track, my friend. Electricity and chemistry are very much relevant to flying.

What about things like English and history?(please say no.)

I have to say "yes." It's all about having an education. You need not be able to quote Shakespeare on request, nor do you have to quote the charter and/or the act of Parliament, etc. that created Canada by paragraph and clause. But being exposed to these subjects makes you a better all-around person. Believe it or not, there are people who, for the life of them, could not find Iraq on the map. That's sad, in my .02 opinion. You do need the skills to write understandable reports, business letters, and resumes. Absolutely, English is a must!

Once more, as always, good luck with your pursuits.

 

[Mr. Cole]

As an engineering and physics type guy, I can tell you that the more advanced math you learn, the more your basic math skills will suffer. I can do partial differential equations and complex analysis, but have to use a calculator to add and subtract. I agree that a good understanding of algebra, trig, and geometry would be good to have. The trig should take care of most of the vector analysis that you would ever need. A calc course may also be a good investment if you're interested in understanding some of the dynamical equations used in aerodynamics and how to manipulate them. Hell, why not throw in an intro physics course covering mechanics as well. The calc and mechanics course, while not necessary, would probably give you the insight to understand the flight mechanics in more details and to see how many concepts in aviation are really related.

You can better understand the effects of pitch and power on airspeed and altitude if you understand conservation of energy principles and when they do and do not apply.

Dave

 

[Rick1128]

Math

In the real everyday world, a pilot will directly use simple math only. Add, subtract, multiply and divide. And the math skills of many pilots are interesting to say the least. Based on the trip documents I have audited in the past couple of months, I have found several pilots who when they add 2 + 2 come up with every number but 4. It is not because they are dumb, but when people get in a hurry, it is easy to make a mistake and usually it is little things like forgetting to carry the 1, etc. So I active encourage people to use calculators. I have also found that after you become familiar with an aircraft and the company's system that errors will start jumping out at you.

The rules of thumb are math based but are in a simple form that make them easy to remember and use. Remember you are also busy trying the keep the shiney side up.

Back when I was instructing on a regular basis, I had a couple of high school math teachers that insisted on using trig rather than the E6B (I know, I am dating myself) and could not understand why their answers were not right. The tests are designed around the E6B.

As for what to study in school, the guidence councelors will alway insist you be heavy on the math and sciences, but there is no major requirement in those areas, except for the military. It is my personal opinion you will need the following:

English. All aviation activities are in English.

Business writing. Resumes and business letter.

Creative writing. For all those trip reports and expense reports you will write in the future.

Computer science. Most of the new aircraft are computer operated and you will also use computers in your daily opeations and for training, so you need to get comfortable with them.

Geogrophy. And I mean the world not just the US. You need to know where you are going. There are a lot of people who don't understand that there are several cities and towns in the US called Atlanta. And so on.

Foreign Laungage. Not a major issue, but most colleges require it. For international operations it helps. I would suggest Spanish, but it's just me. It does make it easier dealing on international flight if you can even say a few words in their tongue. Hello, Please, Thank you, bathroom, beer, etc.

At least one mechanical shop class. I have found over the years the pilots who have at least a working knowledge of how things work and how they are put together, do much better in ground school. It is also handy to know what end to the screwdriver and wrench to use.

A class or two in salesmanship and marketing is also handy. After all you will have to sell yourself when you start looking for a job.

Science in that the industry we are in evolded from and revolves around science. And you need to basic sciences. Biology, chemisty, physics, etc.

While many of the classes you take in High School will prepare you to become a well round, useful member of society, over the years, I have come to realize that the about classes I took were some of the most useful in my career.

Good luck