Originally Posted by
achilleas
Hi,
I'm currently in my last year of high school in Greece, studying in the IBDP program, and I am in the process of applying to some flight schools and cadet programs both in Greece and abroad. I have always wanted to pursue a pilot career – it has been the single unwavering constant since I could remember anything. However, I'm starting to worry somewhat about my ability to make it through. Even though aviation has a special place in my heart, I was never very good at either math or physics and both subjects have always been difficult for me to manage. I would say I'm barely at the average level.
Should I be worried about this? Could my difficulty be a threat toward my career? Growing up, the number one thing I heard was "be good at math and physics", though I have been hearing it less and less from professional all over in the field. I don't know who to listen to or what I should expect. Should I prepare for a backup possibility?
Thanks for your help.
Nowadays being a pilot is not much of a math and physics, atleast not at level you probably think of. The highest level of math and physics is probably while doing theory exams and that’s pretty much it (you get your calc and formulas, don’t expect to solve albert einstein questions). I flew with many guys that claimed they always hated math and they were poor with that. Today you put most of your maths in OPT to calculate aircraft performance or other tools and most of the stuff is done for you. Most math you will use in your normal pilot day, is basic math, some times simple formulas that most of people will learn without any problems, it’s not rocket science. If you know how to multiply/divide even on a paper, how to use calc. You should be fine.
Backup possibility is worth to have in any profession you do. I know many colleagues that would have to go uber or driving trucks just to survive if something happened (see covid, many experienced people were doing anything). It’s not even about having a degree but being prepared. If someone graduated when they were 23/24 but were pilots since then, after say 10-15 years without having any experience in the field they studied in the previous decade, won’t find any sophisticated job anyway.