How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviation?

Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

I'm far from the smartest cat on this board. I even got an aviation degree from the best aviation university out there (that obviously is another school than Embry Riddle or UND :laff::laff:). I'm bad at math, physics, science, philosophy, English, and pretty much any form of learning.

I still got a job driving a plane for money. I even got to hire some folks too.

Major in what you want. Some will argue for or against an aviation degree. I'd only argue that you go away to college, drink beer, chase people you want to date around, learn some stuff and get a degree.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Okay, that sounds good to me!

I don't know if I'm going TOO far off track from the original question, but here I go...

What IS all the talk about the Embry Riddle school??? My brother's friend is going to attend Embry Riddle in Florida for 4 years... That's about $200,000... According to my books, that's more than any Ivy-League college.

What's so great about this school???

By the way, this kid is only going there because his original idea was to go to the Middle-East and blow up some (excuse the language) towel-heads. But, he got denied by the Air-Force, since he developed a knee injury about a week ago.

Let me just say that again...
$200,000 for SCHOOL!​
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

mikecweb said:
Undergrad degrees check a box. I'd probably wouldn't have finished my degree if it wasn't anything but aviation. At the time it was my only interest. If you have something else that interest you by all means get a degree in something else. If I was going to school today I'd probably major in finance with a minor in getting laid.
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Bingo. I'm the same way. In fact, I changed majors twice and STILL dropped out. Fast forward a decade, and I'm about to graduate with honors with the dreaded aviation degree. Why? It actually interested me enough that I stuck with it. Major in something you enjoy. You're more likely to finish the degree that way. Don't major in something because someone tells you "you need a fall back" or "the airlines want to see an aviation degree." You're more likely to drop out and never finish if you major in something you don't like just to have a fall back. Imagine if you actually have to USE the fall back. If you didn't get enjoyment out of it in college, odds are good you'll hate your life if you have to do it as a career.

At the regional level, you don't even need a degree to get hired. Unless your lucky, you probably won't go much further than the regionals. Some majors don't require it, but with the industry how it is right now, you'll be competing with a ton of guys that have degrees. Best to have all your ducks in a row so you can be as competitive as possible when the time comes around.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Holocene said:
ha, calculus to fly a plane?

I haven't yet seen anyone break out the TI-89 while at the controls.
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If you're using a TI-89 youarent doing calculus are just a computer operator, much like someone using an autopilot. Real men dont need calculators.

p.s. hp50g+ in rpn mode > anything TI ever made.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Polar742 said:
I'm bad at math, physics, science, philosophy, English, and pretty much any form of learning.
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Don't be so hard on yourself, there are 3 types of people in this world....those who can count, and those who can't.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

BrewMaster said:
Don't be so hard on yourself, there are 3 types of people in this world....those who can count, and those who can't.
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I think that earned a beer!!! :rawk:
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Polar742 said:
I think that earned a beer!!! :rawk:
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FAIL!
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Keep track of how many women you slept with.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Basic math is all you need. I know plenty of pilots, myself included, who are horrible at math and we do just fine. You have calculators and computers and they will give you correct answers so long as you put in the correct data. ;-) If you're doing complex math while flying odds are good you are in trouble.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Jeremy said:
What IS all the talk about the Embry Riddle school??? My brother's friend is going to attend Embry Riddle in Florida for 4 years... That's about $200,000... According to my books, that's more than any Ivy-League college.

What's so great about this school?
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You, my friend, will go far in aviation and life.

Your BS detector has picked up a steaming pile, and prevented you from wasting copious amounts of money. ERAU offers nothing that many other schools also have, yet they charge 3-4 times as much. They are not alone in the flight training "industry". Every 6 months some new scam shows up to seperate fools from their money.

Sadly there are a great many souls out there who never realize this, and trap themselves with mountains of debt.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Jeremy, you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders. I only wish I was as sensible as you coming out of high school.

As others have said, the airlines don't care what your degree is in, it could be Physics, Aviation, or Medieval Studies. A degree just gets you in the door; suberb communication skills, interpersonal skills, networking skills, and a drive to succeed is what gets you the job. If you want to go to college, major in something that interests you, and worry about your career later. Take gen eds your first two years, and keep your options open. It makes no sense taking the major-specific classes first, all it does is prevent you from changing your major down the road.

Major in whatever you want, but I would advise against getting an aviation degree, as it's largely useless outside of the aviation industry. I would say it's along the same lines as dance theory and 18th century English literature - a fun degree with little practical application.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Jeremy said:
Okay... But I was thinking that say I was laid off by my airline, and I needed to find a new job. If I had a degree in Airline Management, they wouldn't be hiring... Right?
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Well, Im just saying there are many other jobs in the field of aviation that have nothing to do with flying. Airline management is but one of the many different career options in the industry.

if theres one thing that I have learned, dont just focus on one aspect of the industry. The airlines are just a tip of the iceberg in aviation. That applies for pilots too.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

For the OP

In the US of A, you can get by with a basic understanding of general math. Not going to engage in the celebration of "look at me I can barely count" mentality of this thread. My bachelor and graduate degree are in political science, but I had some math along the way, and it has been indispensible in my military and civilian career. It helps in aviation too, contrary to what conclusions may otherwise be drawn from this thread.

If you want to fly for cathay pacific, any european carrier or any where else in the world, math through trig, college algebra and geometry would be pretty necessary.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Capt. Caucasian said:
I have worked for four airlines and literally know thousands of pilots. Only two of those had math degrees. Most have business, aviation, or liberal arts degrees. Mine is in Finance. BTW, I can barely count to ten without use of my fingers.;)
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I've seen that too. I almost drank for free all night because of his poor math skills on a Brussels layover with Capt. Causasiaknownomath.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Vertical speed is, after all, the derivative of altitude :-)
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

I fail to understand the concept of "get any degree other than aviation." What purpose would it serve to get a theatre, marine biology, or medieval studies degree? If you plan on getting something like that... you might as well get one in aviation! :crazy:
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

I think the idea behind this, is to give you other options if you fail your flight physical or other situations. Listen to these guys.

This response from one with no degree.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

t-cart said:
I think the idea behind this, is to give you other options if you fail your flight physical or other situations. Listen to these guys.

This response from one with no degree.
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But really... is ANYTHING other than aviation better than just getting aviation?
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

DC10FlyBy said:
But really... is ANYTHING other than aviation better than just getting aviation?
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I've read on here about airline pilots that are Doctor's or Lawyer's. That is a heck of a fall back career.
 
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