How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with 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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Getting a degree in something non-aviation is a great hedge during the dark periods of the industry.

I'm sure everyone understands that this profession is cyclical and will chew you up and spit you on the sidewalk if you're not prepared to weather the storm.
 
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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Well, maybe Family Studies might be more useless than aviation, but as a general rule, any other degree is better than aviation for two reasons:

1) They are more marketable

2) They cost FAR less
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Doug Taylor said:
Getting a degree in something non-aviation is a great hedge during the dark periods of the industry.

I'm sure everyone understands that this profession is cyclical and will chew you up and spit you on the sidewalk if you're not prepared to weather the storm.
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:yeahthat:

Look how bad the entire aviation industry is right now. I am glad I have a degree that is not in aviation.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

kellwolf said:
Um....you're not using it right now, though. :)
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Of course not. At the hotel on an overnight and can't sleep. :banghead:

However, I do have some small side projects going where I do use my degree.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

ctab5060X said:
Of course not. At the hotel on an overnight and can't sleep. :banghead:

However, I do have some small side projects going where I do use my

degree.
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Do you know anything about electricity?
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Again I'll state that as useless as an aviation degree is, it got me through college. How many people really use their undergrad degree for a job? If I lose my job I'm going to try to find something temporary that will pay the bills until I get another flying job. Don't need a degree period for that kind of thing.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Basic math is all I've ever needed.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Jeremy,

Congrats on doing so well in school. That's something to be proud of and you've obviously worked hard in school up to this point. I was a strong "C" student most of my way through school. Not because I couldn't do the work but because I just didn't care. Not proud of it and wish I could do it over just to prove to myself I could have done much better.:(


So far though my aviation career path has been, by most people's accounts, a complete success. I achieved it however with a lackluster attitude toward school curriculum combined with average pilot skills and a fear of heights and enclosed places. :) Usually, if I have to count past 20 I get lightheaded and for knowing physics, well, I know if I flare too late it's gonna hurt (that whole mass and momentum thing). As you can see I'm a success based on luck and timing more than aptitude in my career field. So yes, it can be done without advanced math and physics. I don't advise anyone to take my lead or the same path as YMMV.

Times have change and companies expect bigger, faster and smarter applicants. Having good grades, especially in math and science, can never hurt you in whatever you choose to do or become! Is it required to fly airplanes? No, not really! That's why Captains are assigned First Officers.:p If you plan on becoming a test pilot in the military or an astronaut then you will need a background in advanced math and physics but us mere mortal aviators are usually able to make due without.

My daughter knows more about math than I do and she's only 13! Come to think of it, she's better at Geographic than me also....:banghead:

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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LOL! I love that line!
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

I chose a degree in which I had to do the least amount of math and science courses. That degree happened to be Aeronautical Operations. Only one semester of Calculus, Physics, and Aerodynamics. The Aerodynamics math was the hardest by far.

I'll agree with Mikecweb that quick mental math is invaluable to being a pilot.

In regards to degree choices some good advice has been given. I'm of the opinion that someone who devotes themselves to any career field will eventually become successful at it. Those who leave at the first sign of trouble or hardship will not. Therefore back-up degree isn't something that I ever personally considered.

I've lost my job flying on three occasions so far. My back-up has always been to get another flying job. In one instance that took a year and a big step backwards. I got that job one year later because I stayed involved in aviation and happened to step into an FBO that was hiring for their turboprop operation. If I'd been in an office somewhere because I fell back on a different career field that wouldn't have happened.



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

Okay. Thanks for the opinions guys.

Just out of curiosity, who do you all fly for?
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Jeremy said:
I know that Math and Sciences are very important things to proficient in when becoming a pilot.

I realize that Physics and calculus and stuff like that are necessary to have down, but do you really use it day-to-day as a pilot?

Also, I wanted to ask for anyone's opinion. Right now I have all A's and one B in Algebra (highest math class for my grade). Is it of high importance that I get high A's in math to become a pilot, or am I doing fine?
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A fundamental understanding Newtonian physics will serve you incredibly well. Understanding how bodies move, how energy is stored in them, blah blah blah, is (in my mind) huge in flying an airplane.

Math? Dude I got a D in high school Geometry, somehow found a way to get through something like 12 credit hours of college level math (I almost failed every class I took) and it did NOTHING for me as an airline pilot, or pilot in general at that!

You need to know how to add, subtract, divide and multiply. That's it. Anything more than that is worthless.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

If you think about it, a degree in meteorology might be pretty useful if you plan on being a commercial pilot...
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Jeremy said:
Okay. Thanks for the opinions guys.

Just out of curiosity, who do you all fly for?
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Polar...

...and I'm of the mindset, if you're going to fly, get a degree in it. If you get furloughed look at all your options, including continuing education.

I can tell you if I graduated with a degree in computer science in 1998, it'd be worthless. I'd have to go back to school to get caught up to be competitive in the market place. Look at all the long lines at job fairs. I'll bet alot of those people are "current and qualified" in their degree fields, and still struggling to get a job.

If you were an employer, and both candidates had the same degree field, one went into another industry (flying for the sake of the argument) for 5 years, not exercising what they studied, or the person that has gained relevant experience in their degree field over the last 5 years.

I know there are exceptions, and a bell curve to support it, but the choice is purely yours.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

SJM said:
If you think about it, a degree in meteorology might be pretty useful if you plan on being a commercial pilot...
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thats what I went back to school to study. Beware though, unlike the sentiments of this thread you will need to be good at math and physics to get this degree. You'll need math trough multi-variable calculus and ordinary/partial differential equations and some of the meteo courses are basically specialized physics, ie atmospheric dynamics(basically fluid dynamics applied to the atmosphere), atmospheric thermodynamics, etc.

definitely a science degree and not what most people think when they hear meteorology.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

Jeremy said:
Okay. Thanks for the opinions guys.

Just out of curiosity, who do you all fly for?
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<--------- I fly for the American Farmer........and You!

That sounds like a commercial. :D
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

casey said:
thats what I went back to school to study. Beware though, unlike the sentiments of this thread you will need to be good at math and physics to get this degree. You'll need math trough multi-variable calculus and ordinary/partial differential equations and some of the meteo courses are basically specialized physics, ie atmospheric dynamics(basically fluid dynamics applied to the atmosphere), atmospheric thermodynamics, etc.

definitely a science degree and not what most people think when they hear meteorology.
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Actually, that sounds really cool.
 
Re: How much does mathematics REALLY have to do with aviatio

I fly for Delta. Also, I got to thinking. I used to be in the "get a degree in anything but aviation" camp. But, now that I realize that my finance degree is also utterly useless I don't think that way anymore. Once you are out of school for more than ten years your degree is obsolete.
 
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