I want to become a pilot?

I want to become a pilot but i'm not good at maths?

• When i grow up i would like to become a commercial pilot (With Monarch), i have been wanting to do this for nearly 7 years now. I'm 13, in year nine and live in England, UK. I have become a bit obsessive over becoming a pilot because i always imagine my self in that smart pilot uniform sitting in the cockpit. I am beginning some flying lessons soon, which i am really looking forward to! However, i'm not the brightest in maths at all, i never understand things its just so hard. I don't really know what to do i try really hard in my lessons at school hoping to get good grades but i don't feel i'm smart enough to become a pilot or ever will be. Although, I am extremely good with computers (if that helps?). I know most pilots these days start in the RAF then make their way into major airlines but however silly this sounds, i'm afraid of getting killed and never being able to get into a major airline at all. I thought about becoming a cargo pilot for a while then moving to major airlines but then realized you would need the same qualifications anyway. Anyway, I'm just looking for a bit of advice to maybe help me for fill my dreams of becoming a pilot. I'm out! Luke

• Answer:

  The level of math you do have to learn will 99% of the time be done automatically with modern avionics. You will need to study heavily (when the time comes) on course, direction, and having a firm grasp on plotting courses from A to B (with points between) and knowing where you are at all times. The things you use math for as a pilot are calculating fuel usage at a specific altitude , barometric pressure, speed at both aforementioned, approach procedures, take off specifics, navigational equations and so on. It is not rocket science, literally. You will be required to know how to do everything without modern equipment for obvious reasons of human redundancy in case of failure.. but just about everything that is used can be learned with practice and a due diligence to the role of pilot. As others mentioned you do have to be prepared to put in your 'dues and time'. Don't expect to take a 2-4 year training course and be on a commercial airbus of any type right away. Though some do get into accelerated programs and catch some 'breaks' if you will.. and may be the third guy on a 747-400 or similar. Basically taking in the experience of the first officer and captain.. and helping a bit with checklist priority etc.. depending on the leniency of the captain and first officer. So it isn't impossible to train and be flying (at least at some level) a commercial jetliner at an early age.. (by this I mean 20+) -- but it is more likely after some time working your way up through plane sizes, qualifications, cargo duty and so forth. If you love flying or enjoy it then it won't matter immensely if you have souls on board or not.. cargo is cargo. Flying is flying. Something I CAN recommend to you , you CAN do now is to use the best 'computer' simulators available and start learning. This may sound crazy, but it really is not. Get the game Microsoft FSX (Flight Simulator Ten (or X) ). It is a few years old now, so is cheap. You can start with any old joystick you like.. the controls don't matter much when you first start .. you could even use just the keyboard. There is quite a learning curve with the game as you .. (If you keep it realistic) -- must learn the procedures, and many aspects of flying. First you want to get familiar with flying -- start with smaller aircraft and the built in missions -- prop planes to something like a lear jet. Then you can try some of the online play .. through multiplayer. A good server will have "ATC Pro" or something similar in the description or name. This means they have genuine people working Air Traffic Control -- and on good servers it is fairly realistic. They are serious about their simulation. In these cases the experience you are gaining is invaluable. Because a HUGE part of flying is talking with ATC, knowing checklist procedures (knowing what to press, in what sequence,.. when.. why.. double and triple checking it.. ) -- Then knowing how to operate the , at first, seemingly endless array of avionics for flight. Especially auto pilot equipmpent, from Altitude Holds, VS, IAS, HDG, CRS, Com frequencies, Nav Frequencies, .. learning the use of ADF, DME, what your transponder is , and why -- Even learning the proper methods of employing ILS driven approaches to major airports (aka: Fly by wire" ) -- Which is not nearly as easy as it sounds. Planes DO fly themselves.. sort of. But ultimately the pilots have to adjust and control these computers constantly to keep the aircraft airborn and everyone safe. Coming into land even on an 'autopilot mode' .. synched with an ILS approach (think of it as a radio frequency guiding your X and Y position (or vertical and horizontal position in space as you follow the G/S) -- You still must maintain appropriate engine speeds, thrust percentage, blade N1, N2 etc, Flaps, auto spoilers.. Auto brake levels,.. and the ultimate landing is by human hands on the yoke.. (Or joystick in airbus, etc). The last "minimums" 200ft or less or so you take over and flare and adjust several things to touch down at an appropriate vertical descent rate and so on.. Point is -- if you carry that 'simulator' and learn it well.. it will give you a huge edge on understanding how to fly the real thing. You can even get equipment for reasonable prices for the simulator to control things via flight systems pretty much similar to the real thing. Which again gives you more of a realistic edge. This isn't to say you can jump into a 747 after 6 months of a flight sim -- but if you get onto Vatsim and the like.. and learn the procedures for proper ATC , clearance, Pushback, taxi, departure, and so on.. you won't be overwhelmed when you go for the real thing. Good luck,