Whats the best way to prepare yourself for OAT

[MUST FLY]

I'm dead keen to get to OAT. They said at their seminars that reading GCSE maths and physics books is a good way of getting the brain into gear for the work ahead.
Which areas of maths and physics are likely to be the most valuable to learn?

If anyone has any other suggestions on preparation for Oxford I'd be really grateful.

Many Thanks for any replies

MUST FLY

[little red train]

maths.

simple dividing, multiplying (speed dist time) etc, understand how sine, cosine and tan work. how to read grahs, curves ect (maths relations, lowest number, relations ratios etc), Vectors it also helps to be able to move equasions around.

Physics.

Simple Gas Laws, Electricity(fair bit inc AC), Forces (Vectors again)

Hope it helps. to be fair, I was pretty crud at all of that, especially maffs, still got through, would have just made things easyer.

[Go Around Runway Heading]

Hi,
Would you need your leaving cert to get into this colleage.

[little red train]

OAT and all other Commercial air training orgs. Don’t care, they may say there are minimum requirements but at the end of the day if you turn up with 60k or whatever, they aren’t going to say no.

There really isn't a massive amount of number crunching; most of the stuff is getting your head around concepts and memorising screeds of babble, most the thinking is in breaking down a problem into the component factors.

I don’t have the best academic results, no Higher maths (a bit easier than A-levels), a C at physics, never passed Higher English, but found the coarse just as challenging as those with a degree, its a steep learning curve for everyone, the main thing I found was having good study practices, it isn’t like school, no spoon feeding, nobody’s going to chase you up if you haven’t studied enough, you’ll simply fail.

[Mister Geezer]

Good advice from little red train. The ATPLs are by no means rocket science but a grounding in GCSE maths and possibly A-Level Physics would stand you in good stead for the course ahead.

Calculators are allowed in the exam so your knowledge of Maths would just ensure that you can understand the concepts a little better in the classroom.

All the best

MG

------------------
Don't land in a field or the sheep will eat the aircraft.

[Pilot Pete]

If you are going to OATS very soon just brush up on the maths and physics as suggested. If you are not going for some time I'd suggest you get hold of a set of course notes and read them. If you can get some of it to stick now it will help when you are shown it in groundschool (assuming you are going to do it at OATS). If you can get a copy of home study notes they will have all the explainations to problems and concepts. It's all easy enough, it's just the shear volume that you are required to remember that makes it tricky, start now and make life a lot easier.

Good luck

PP

[MUST FLY]

Thanks for all the tips guys. The maths and physics stuff tou have all recommended I've recently gone over and can understand OK but A level physics!

I remember leafing through a mates A level physics book once and thinking "blimey, glad I never chose this one in my options."

Will I be OK on my GCSE knowledge.

Thanks again for any replies.

Oh and Pilot Pete, thanks for the truely motivating story.

[Scout]

I suggest lying down in a dark room whilst listening to whale song

[Blighty Pilot]

Maths and physics is a good idea - I would also consider having a serious holiday before you start because there isn't much social time when you are there.

[pastel fresh]

PREPARE TO BE COMPLETED SHAFTED BY EVERYONE THERE

[Blackshirt]

Ohh pastel fresh,

is it bitterness or jealousy or hearsay?

Not having a pop at U, just please do elaberate.

[Speedbird 2946]

I'd buy an air gun to shoot the crows, and ear muffs to protect against the air raid horn in the mornings...

[VFE]

I am in pretty much the same boat as you Must Fly. I should be starting an ab-intio course later in the year and have/will be looking over the following at GCSE level:

Physics
Mechanics:
Pressure
Force
Work
Power
Mass
Weight
Density
Newtons Laws
The Gas Laws
Basic electrics including Ohms Law

Maths
Fractions and Decimals
Transformation of Formulae
How to use a good scientific calculator
Basic Trigonometry
Vectors (resolution+addition)
Basic Algebra
Mental Arithmetic
Multiplication Tables

These are topics the groundschool have advised prior knowledge of and also advice I have been given through PPRuNe over the year I have been registered.
I wasn't too hot on maths/physics at school (+7 years ago now) so for peace of mind if nothing else, I am getting my head down now.

I would say that 'Mechanics of Flight' by AC Kermode is a must for anyone at our stage.

Good luck,

VFE.



[This message has been edited by VFE (edited 31 May 2001).]

[gurnzee]

pastel fresh

if you can't beat them, don't join them, but i feel the same!!

[PURPLE PITOT]

Best way to prep for OATS?
Get mummy and daddy to re mortgage the house.
Remember, save at least £5000 for the instructor rating when the promised jet job fails to materialize

[fibod]

Purple Pitot

I work at OATS. The last 5 of my students who graduated (all self sponsored) got jobs within weeks of leaving - all on jets. 4 of them were due to recommendations by the school, one was an overseas student who got a job with his airline back home.

If you are worth employing, and you've just graduated from here, there's a system for getting you in front of the airlines, and you get hired. Period.

------------------
Never let the facts spoil a good thread