How much math is involved in flying a plane?

Hi Kenny!

Although current aircraft instruments do a lot of the math that we used to do in our head, there is always a chance of batteries failing or circuit breakers popping and leaving the pilot to do the headwork.

Pilots need to be well capable of at least Algebra 1. Navigation involves rate-time-distance problems. Aircraft loading requires weight and balance calculations using basic Algebra. Figuring heading versus course in a crosswind uses vectors. And of course there is always calculating fuel required for a sortie.

Aircraft performance is affected by barometric pressure, wind and air temperature so pilots use a lot of graphs and tables to figure out aircraft performance such as takeoff and landing data. Pilots use an aviation slide rule (called an E-6B) to calculate true airspeed from indicated airspeed.

It would be nice to have a working knowledge of math through Trigonometry, but not all pilots are good at Trigonometry. Global positioning satellites have obviated the need for most of the higher math.

I hope that helps you and I wish you all the best.

Mark Julicher

What Mark said. Math is one of the main ingredients for a pilot. Most things you have to use as pilot involve weather as well., doing conversions. Like Mark mentioned, an E6B was used back in WW2, but is still used today as a backup to all the electronics. I still like using one myself. You use that for planning a cross country, fuel burn, wind correction, weight and balance, density and pressure altitude and other things. Being able to interpolate also.
So what it boils down to, is math is a very important part of being a pilot. science is also a big part, as well, mechanics figure in also as when you have to understand how a turbine works.
I hope all the responses help you.
Steve

The math involved in aviation is very basic. It includes simple additions, subtractions, multiplications, and divisions. That may seem tough to do in flight, but we have what is called a flight computer or whiz wheel. It is an easy to use device, that once learned, will make all your in-flight math extremely easy. If you are curious about the whiz wheel, take a look online at the Jeppesen CR-3 flight computer. I'm no math wiz, but this flight computer works wonders. And it is a tool you will be encouraged to use.

Very basic math is used now a days such as addition and subtraction.