Aviation Mathematics
 

Hi everyone,
In a very soon while Im going to take my GCSE options. Im working to become an airline pilot so I have the subjects planned out well. The list goes
Mathematics
Science (physics, chemistry)
Geography
English
French
P.E (compulsory at my school but the leadership awards would look good on my CV)
(possibly Business studies)
And regarding Mathematics Im wanting to know what kind of maths pilots do. Ive done some research but people simplify it to much and say "we leave it to the computers"
Would the kind of math you do consist of
Formulae Speed, Distance & Time
Mass, Area & Volume Trigonometry
I found that off somewhere but I really want the pilots here to tell me what math you use and which one I should take.
Thanks

Um, let's see.

1. Split bar bill

2. Convert money

3. Convert Z time to local

Ok, about once a year I have to do manual W&B, but I use a calculator. And every once in while the MEL will say "increase fuel burn .4%." Again, I use a calculator. That's about it.

A bit of algebra to use the numerous rules of thumb (2%/1000', 300'/NM...).
Some trig for crosswind calculations.
A bit of differential calculus to use in arguing density altitude and power/thrust output here.
Some discrete/combinatorial math for logic arguments at the bar...

The heavy math will be in all the ground school courses and tests, where you have to show you can do it by hand, on your own. Once you have a real job, the first one is the most often used.

Very much as Intruder says. Make sure you have the Sine, Cosine and Tangent rules safely in your head for the navigation exams, if they still do plotting on a chart.

Here you will find aviation formulas used everyday by pilots.
Suggest drop the guy email you want it and he will help you out, Im sure:ok:

Aviation Formulas

747 forever

Like the previous posts have said the most arduous part is during your training. Once you are there and have a job, make sure you know your 3x table for top of descents and 5x tables for rates of descents. The rest is simples.

Good luck

thanks for the replies! So basically knowing every basic math is what I should do. What exactly is calculus anyway? I have read the example of thrust ratios etc but what is it? Like method and calculations etc

Calculus is applied math, used for many things from CALCUlating velocity, acceleration, and distance traveled, to CALCUlating Mach or True Air Speed from Indicated Air Speed, air density, and temperature. Much of Physics, Astronomy, and other "hard" sciences rely on Calculus.

The fundamentals of differential and integral calculus are finding rates of change over decreasing intervals, eventually finding a formula for larger intervals.

ah yes we are doing some calculus in physics today,
Efficiency=total useful useful energy
Total Energy
We have a test on wednesday so, yeah could think of that as a kind of calculus.

Calculus is not covered at all at GCSE, you only get introduced to it at a-level. Although it is implicitly covered when you are told in Physics. The gradient of a velocity/time graph is the acceleration and the area under the curve of a velocity/time graph is the displacement.

Can you give me one example of the type of calculus and when it is used? Just to get a rough idea of what its about

Forget it - you don't need it for flying!

If you can multiply any number up to 50 by 3 then you will be fine:ok:

any reason? I can do that but I want a reason to why.

Also from what I have searched you really honestly don`t need to be that good at maths, the world has miss judged pilots

Calculus in Aviation
 

Calculus is basically the study of how functions change over time. Velocity is an example : it is the rate of change of your position over time.

It is a very elaborate subject, and has many applications. The two most important ones are the ability to find extreme values (minimum / maximum) of functions and the ability to estimate how good an approximation really is.

In the general professional pilot community, these are reflected in tables, graphs, and rules of thumb, so that you don't see calculus at work. Indeed, many professional pilots just learn those rules by heart and just look at graphs, or trust their computers / calculators when the result of a formula pops up.

People who are good at calculus (and who understand the applications) have an easier job at remembering formulas or the shapes of curves, because they understand the mechanics behind it. That has helped me in sitting some of the career exams, and it allowed me to write some flight planning software myself. But in all honesty, you would rarely use calculus directly in flight.

The general public still reveres the pilot community, seeing pilots as the pinnacle of both intelligence and skill.

Nevertheless, especially since the introduction of low cost airlines, the market (driving pilots' pay) has a more accurate perception of what a professional pilot brings to the table: that is, a medically fit and responsible human being that has completed a 12-18 month specialized (expensive) training. But they are not engineers, they don't have an MBA and it is not a given that they have good interpersonal or management skills.

- actually never! EG d(theta)/d(t) is called Rate of Turn and is normally '1'.

Look no calculus, differential or integral!

3 times table is sufficient for we Skygods:D

Relax, 747. Basic mental arithmetic- division and multiplication will do fine.

Just curious, do the JAA/CAA exams still do Nav plotting?

Some Old Horses Can Always Have Their Oats Again and all that sort of stuff, or is it long gone now?

I scraped a pass in maths at O level in 1977. That is probably more than you need to be a pilot. All the maths you use is common sense. You will be given 'rules of thumb' to work with through your training - none of them are complex.


Interestingly, many people think that people with a good scientific education and skills would make the best pilots. But it's often the other way round. From my experience as a RAF QFI, spatial awareness is most important and it's the artists and not the scientists which tend to have this. When I think back to my previous students, the best ones were not mathmeticians - in fact far from it. Of the three I can think of right now, one had come straigt from school with mediocre geography and history A levels, one had been selling second hand cars and one was a piano player! I did have one good guy who was a marine biologist - which is sort of a science - but he had spent most of his university time diving and surfing. One guy had a physics degree from Oxford. He spent all his time trying to understand the mechanics of what we were doing and the more important stuff just passed him by!

you see I can honestly say I used to not be good at maths but last year it really picked up quite well, its going so well Im a bit disappointed knowing its not that useful. Im not suggesting Im not going to bother but its a bit disappointing for me.