How good do you actually have to be at maths to become a commercial pilot? The reason im asking this is because im crap at maths and my dream is to fly for BA and my dad alsways says that i will never become a pilot because im sooo bad at the subject!
Thanx for any reaplys
BigJet!
By: skycruiser - 28th March 2004 at 08:21
excellent reply Moondance.
By: BigJet - 27th March 2004 at 15:14
Well thanks for all of the replys, I better get learning! 😀
By: wysiwyg - 27th March 2004 at 15:05
what he said :rolleyes:
By: Moondance - 27th March 2004 at 14:41
Martin and Redwings have it spot on. What matters much more is determination to succeed, with a general all round aptitude. If you are considering sponsored training, then the airline will probably insist on A Level Maths, but if you fund your own training a lack of A Level Maths will unlikely to be a serious problem (but you must be realistic about your chances of success before spending shedloads of cash!)
I too am crap at mental maths, but the only times table you really need to know is the three times (distance required for descent is altitude times three plus a bit for deceleration eg at FL200 doing 300 kts you need 60 miles plus 10 miles to slow down to flap extension speed). I double check loadsheets with calculator (same for crosswind components etc).
You also develop a ‘sixth sense’ for numbers concerning your aircraft eg Zero Fuel Mass for a 757 with a full load is 80-81 tonnes typically, so if someone gave you a loadsheet with a ZFM of 84 tonnes, the alarm bells should go off.
By: GZYL - 27th March 2004 at 14:10
I’m useless at mental arithmetic… takes me a while to do it! In the words of my A-level maths teacher… “Do the simple stuff on your calculator… let your brain do the difficult stuff”.
By: Redwings - 27th March 2004 at 10:45
Bigjet,
Like martin_EGTK, I’m currently in training, having just completed my PPL and finishing my CPL exams. I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to maths, but I have passed all, but one of my exams (Aerodynamics), which will require a resit, and with one more to go (Performance and Flight Planning). Most of them require basic adding and subtraction, while those such as Navigation, and Performance and Flight Planning may require such things as fractions, and different formulae for loading and balance. The main thing I did was practice as many things as possible. So basically, practice all your basic things such as adding, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I actually went through and learnt my times tables again, and I’m 20! Finally, don’t worry, if flying is what you really want to do, then you should have the motivation to tackle you weaknesses and make them your strengths.
By: Ren Frew - 27th March 2004 at 10:10
Originally posted by skycruiser
Sometimes, when I’m not on the golf course.:D
So practice your swing Bigjet and you’ll get along just fine. 😀
By: skycruiser - 27th March 2004 at 10:03
Originally posted by BigJet
R u a pilot?
Sometimes, when I’m not on the golf course.:D
By: Airline owner - 27th March 2004 at 08:19
Yeah. Sky cruiser flies for Cathay Pacific i believe
By: BigJet - 27th March 2004 at 08:11
Well, I am crap at maths. Did me no harm.
R u a pilot?
By: Airline owner - 27th March 2004 at 06:59
Well actually what qualifications are needed for a ppl
By: skycruiser - 27th March 2004 at 03:51
Well, I am crap at maths. Did me no harm.:D
By: martin_EGTK - 27th March 2004 at 00:24
The standard doesn’t need to be anywhere near A-Level standard. OAT say that you’ll need GCSE standard. In my first few weeks of training I did study slightly with the Maths involved, but my confidence has increased as I’ve gone on and I now feel comfortable in the majority of problems I have to deal with.
With regard as to where the Maths actually pops up I think it would be safe to say nearly everywhere. I have encountered Maths in everyone of my subjects to date, including Human Performance!!
You’ll need to know pythagoras, SOH CAH TOA, and easy stuff like multiplication. With practise it comes easily!
By: Airline owner - 26th March 2004 at 23:00
God damn that looks like my future of becoming a BA pilot is out the window as well LOL
By: Malcolm Payne - 26th March 2004 at 22:13
Maths standard
If I can offer my little bit. In the end you have to be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide quickly and accurately. A grounding of basic trig helps. I write with more than 50 years and 12,000 hours behind on more than 110 types. However I didn’t fly for the airlines, although Her Majesty allowed me loose on Hunters and Meteors
By: BigJet - 26th March 2004 at 21:08
REALLY, THATS MY DREAM OVER THEN!
By: Ren Frew - 26th March 2004 at 21:06
A-level standard is it not ? :confused:
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March 26, 2004 at 9:03 pm