How much and what kind of math is involved in being an airline pilot?

Answer 1

It takes a good knowledge of physics to be an airline pilot. (We sometimes call them commercial pilots.) They have to have a good handle on stuff like fluid mechanics, which relates to air moving over the wings and control surfaces of the plane. They also must have an ability to understand electrical and mechanical systems and how they work. Further, they must be able to "see" the different systems and "visualize" the manner in which they interact and work together to make the aircraft function properly. Commercial pilots must be able to think logically and solve technical problems to master the operation of complex aircraft systems. Perhaps a look at where commercial pilots come from would help develop a feel for their physics (and science) backgrounds. It is difficult to find a pilot that hasn't graduated from college. And they are generally holding a B.S. and usually not a B.A. Also, a good portion of the ranks of air transport pilots (a reference to the FAA designation of the commercial pilot) come out of the military. The armed services almost certainly trains pilots better than any other organization or agency. They have the most resources to do that training, and they invest the time in doing it. Aside from logging a lot of hours flying, the military pilot gets a ton of technical training, and it gets scientifically intense with a lot of "the physics of flying" and "the physics of aircraft systems" or such. (The "titles" of the "classes" taken by military pilots were made up, but real technical training in the physics of flight and of aircraft performance, as well as of aircraft systems function and operation is a must. It's like being back in college for the pilots.) Getting the training and the experience to become a commercial pilot by going to private flight school and flying light planes in an attempt to move to, say, corporate or some type of freight flying, would be expensive and challenging. And the results may be leave the pilot taking this route in a less-than-competitive position when attempting to break into the ranks of the air transport pilot. Best of luck in your quest.

Answer 2

Most modern aircraft have computers or Flight Management Systems/FMS that do pretty much all the math for the pilot. However, sometimes they need to apply basic addition and subtraction to complete a manual weight & balance manifest if the computer goes down. They also may have to use basic algebra using rounded figures to figure time/speed/distance problems for climbs or descents over fixed points in their heads. If you are really interested, there is a book called "Mental Math for Pilots" that covers all the calculations you will ever need to use as an airline pilot. ==No Special Math Required== There are no specific math requirements to become an airline pilot, but it is helpful for one to be familiar with some basic math such as ratios and the use of time/distance formulas. Also, while almost no one in aviation uses slide rules anymore, all airline pilots are required to be familiar with, and carry, a circular slide rule with them when they fly. There is certainly nothing one couldn't learn while taking the required ground school courses and flight lessons.