Am I cut out to be a professional pilot?

[Tristan]

Hi,

I'm 25 and I'm soon to start flight training. I hope to become a professional pilot, but I'm worried that I might not have the apptitude for it. I'm very passionate about aviation and I can basically do anything I set my mind to. Having said that, there are few things which still concern me.
I was sick quite a bit during a particular time in my childhood, and as a result I missed parts of early education, in particular I missed some early maths.

So I basically went through school struggling in this area. I decided to pursue the subjects i was good at, i.e, foreign languages and humanity subjects, and I have just recently graduated from university.

I don't have issues now handling basic mathematical calculations, such as multiplying, subtracting, addition and even basic trigonometry, plus I feel that I can go over the stuff I missed. However, I don't have the quickest mathamatical mind, in other words it may take me a bit longer to calculate numbers compared to some other people. Plus I don't feel greatly confident in making calculations under pressure.

Could this be a major issue if I want to pursue a flying career? I'm not going to cry myself to sleep every night if I don't fly for a major flag carrier, but I am hoping for a job as a regional pilot if not bigger.

Cheers

Tristan

[Dugie8]

Shouldn't be an issue at all. There actually is very little "math" done mentally in the cockpit. The 36 rule is about the only one I use on a daily basis, and that isn't all that complicated and requires no great feat of intellectual prowness (hell I do it). If you love airplanes and have a passion for it, go for it.

I would suggest talking with as many different people as you can, that are actively flying, in all different aspects of aviation, JC is a good place to start. I will submit, I have the easiest and greates job on the planet, but at the same time, I miss my wife and kid while on the road. If flying professionally is your goal, you may not end your career with an 8 on 6 off schedule, but you will certainly have something similiar or harder while working your way up the ranks. If those close to you can live with it, and you can too, go find a flight school and start flying.

[scramjet]

Hey, I'm horrible at mental math myself yet I've always gotten very good grades in math courses. I once saw a jet captain for a major airline stumble around with adding two two digit numbers while making a presentation. No big deal. Go for your dreams! btw, I have something to add up or what ever, I whip out a calculator or a notepad and do it on that because its been my experience flying the great mighty Cessna 172 that your life is not going to depend on whether you can take the square root of 4578, multiply it by .5789 and then divide it by 3.7568 all under ten seconds

[Flying Ninja]

Originally Posted by Tristan

...I missed some early maths...

As long as you didn't miss the financial math that you should be doing as part of your homework in flight training and entry into the regionals, you'll be fine. Flight training is a very expensive proposition (compared to most other career training paths). I'm in debt way over my head and don't have a flying job. I'm at a point where I got my training, but have no means to start the career. So I gave it a lot of thought and gave up on it.

Do the financial math. It's the only math that's critical to flying.

[SoFlo]

Originally Posted by Tristan

However, I don't have the quickest mathamatical mind, in other words it may take me a bit longer to calculate numbers compared to some other people. Plus I don't feel greatly confident in making calculations under pressure.

Tristan, after a while it is a lot of the same numbers/formulas that you will find yourself using. Stick with it long enough and you will over come any worries. Best of luck.

[Tristan]

Thanks guys for your support. This is something I really want to do, so I should be able to manage any challenges.

Cheers

Tristan

[n57flyguy]

My "role model" pilot told me that with math and flying if your using it and thinking about it on a daylie basis, it just starts to role off your mind. I have a love/hate math relationship. Anything to do with math and flying, I love. Anyhting that dosnt do with it (or apply to it) I find it not that enjoyable. I just try to apply all the classroom math into SOMETHING to do with flying. Even now, I screwed my self with math in 8th grade, got Fs on my report card, but I didnt care till course selection came for HS and I was on the lowest rank. I made sure I tried this year (and I had an easy teacher ) but have had straight A s and moved up the next rank. Now I know Ill reap what I did to myself, but Im not using that as an excuse to stop there.

OK end rant. BTW took math final today and school is out!!!

[RynoB]

Like others have said before, mental math doesn't play as big a role in the cockpit as it did yesteryear. However, if you do want to improve your math skills in relation to flying, get the book "Mental Math for Pilots." I have it and it's a great book for brushing up on the basic math skills used in aviation.

[Tristan]

Ryno,

Thanks for that reference I will check it out. Fly Guy your point about math being fun when related to flying is very true, also a motivational factor.

Cheers

Tristan

[aloft]

Originally Posted by Dugie8

There actually is very little "math" done mentally in the cockpit. The 36 rule is about the only one I use on a daily basis, and that isn't all that complicated and requires no great feat of intellectual prowness (hell I do it).

Am I the only one who doesn't have a clue what this "36 rule" is???

[n57flyguy]

Originally Posted by aloft

Am I the only one who doesn't have a clue what this "36 rule" is???

Nope.

[n57flyguy]

Originally Posted by Tristan

Ryno,

Thanks for that reference I will check it out. Fly Guy your point about math being fun when related to flying is very true, also a motivational factor.

Cheers

Tristan

It helps me. I was going to get that Mental Math for pilots book, good to ear its good.