How good at maths do you have to be to enable yourself to become an airline pilot ?

Question

What sort of stuff do they go into ??

Answer 1

As a retired airline pilot, I can tell you that you don't need to be a mathematical genius to get your commercial pilot's licence, but to be accepted as a pilot with a major airline you will almost certainly need an undergraduate degree of some type. The more math, physics, and engineering you have in your educational background, the better your odds of being recruited (and advanced) are than a pilot without the right academic credentials.

While math is not necessary to master the basic hand and foot coordination skills for stick and rudder flying, you better prepare yourself for a lot of studying to learn navigation, weather, air regulations, etc. The major airlines are not going to give you command of a 100 million dollar aircraft with 300 passengers unless you can prove you have the mental capacity to learn all the normal and emergency procedures that the airline will demand of you.

A pilot has to be intelligent but not necessarily intellectual. He/she has to be able to quickly and correctly calculate basic math problems such as cross wind components, fuel burn, and ATC instructions to arrive at a specified altitude - location point with and without a calculator.

Look at it this way - if I were recruiting for a major airline (and I have), and I had a choice of 2 pilots with similar flying experience, I would take the one with the superior educational background, as that way he/she has demonstrated that he/she will have the mental capability to excel at a difficult training program, and will have the demonstrated willpower to succeed. The major airlines are going to hire the best of the best, and not pilots who meet the minimum acceptable standards.

And English is the international standard for aviation communication, so it won't hurt to be good at that either.

Answer 2

Believe it or not, to attend any professional pilot school where they can teach you to become an ATP or airline transport pilot, all you need is a basic high school education. What will happen is that they will teach you how to use the tools to calculate some math questions. A beginner's tool is like an E-6B while is a hand held wheel computer that can do all kinds of calculations such as fuel problems. And just make sure you know how to read graphs and interepret them. When you get to fly the big planes, you will learn to use the FMC or FMS which stands for the Flight Management Computer or System. So, basic high school math is required.

Answer 3

before you even consider the math to calculate distance, time speed,
or weight and balance calculations, or determine your cross wind component, or how much you owe your flight instructor for 1.8 hrs.
according to the ("FARS") regulations in the US to be ELIGIBLE
for the privileges of a pilot you must
14 CFR 61.103
§ 61.103 Eligibility requirements: General.


(c) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.

Pay attention to the WRITE part. before I would concern myself with the math. Basicly if you graduated high school, you have received the instruction needed to do most math you will be concerned with. You will learn to use a tool called the E6b which is a slide rule type of calculator
designed specifically for aviation. It will do the trig and calculus for you.

Answer 4

Math is extremely important. Probably one of the most used of all skills in aviation. You need to know how to read/figure different types of airspeed, fuel burn in lbs/gallons per hour, wind speed direction/correction, runway/taxiway numbers, communications and frequencies and about a million other things that include math and numbers.

Answer 5

It's not as difficult as you might think. You need to get your private pilots rating, IFR ratings, commercial rating, and the most # of flying time as possible, airlines like multi engine rating as well. the schooling to get private and IFR are fairly simple. there is not too much math involved. At miami dade, their pilot program only requires you to take algebra.

Answer 6

Well I'm sure that "maths" skills would be really important...LOL and spelling could probably help too! I couldn't resist picking on you but I would get all of the math I could get. Just call a school and ask them then you'd know for sure.

Answer 7

Here is a blog that you might want to subscribe to. It will go through everything involved in becoming a pilot from your first flight to obtaining your commercial rating. New entries are added every week: http://360.yahoo.com/private_jet_charter

Answer 8

You have be good in math and really good with computers, because you must program the profile of the flight.

Answer 9

This question has been asked about a dozen times in the past week - Could you first read these answers that were given...? Then come back and ask questions - Or is it too much to ask you...?

Answer 10

A+++++++++++++++++++ average and u need an A++++++++++++++++++ in pre cal and A++++++++++++++++++++++ in geo