Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
Cubdriver,
You are an engineer aren't you? To the rest of us all that high mathematics does not make any sense.
My father is an aerospace and electrical engineer. He can take apart a VOR and put it back together again. He can accurately explain how the signal works and show you complex mathematical formulas on its function. The problem comes when I ask him to turn it on, tune it in and track to the station.
In college they had us learn all this complex mathematics on aerodynamics. We were told that it was impossible to fly a transport category plane without it. In fact once I left college I never encountered a math problem in aviation again other then one of simple addition and subtraction.
When an engineer sees the world it is all broken down into expressions of mathematics and that is great. The rest of us memorize the answers and move on. Remember that when you try to explain aspects of fight to your next student using math and get a blank stare in return.
The stick in "stick and rudder" is not referring to a pencil.
Skyhigh
I don't think Cub meant the phrase "mental exercise" implied complex equations with trig, calculus, etc.
Mental exercises are good because they show how to approach a particular subject from many different angles which in turn heightens our understanding and critical thinking. The time and distance to VOR problems are a mental exercise and meant to add one more tool to our mental toolbox. Even if a particular tool is never used it still helps us learn and appreciate its place among better tools.
About education… Education is taking the concept of mental exercises above and beyond to develop exceptional knowledge and the quest for learning, even with those tough courses. If we want an education that only shows us what we absolutely need to know for a particular job then it's not an education, it's job training. I'm not saying job training is bad, I'm just saying it should not be confused with a university education. Do the degree to get an education (to learn) which helps earn consideration/respect for internships. Do the internships to get job training and then a job. It seems like an ok system to me.
I'd like to think that's why education shown on resumes is valuable. It's valuable because it exhibits exceptional knowledge, problem solving ability, time management, and the desire to learn. Otherwise, if an interviewer thinks college educations aren't valuable then that lowers the value of the job applicant and in turn lowers the value of the job.
Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
My advice to the OP is to throw away the Gliem and get a Jeppesen book that has lots of big colorful pictures and memorize the correct answer for the test. It is what people do who want to pass the test.
Great diagrams really make the subjects easier to understand. Also, in the end if one understands the subject then they'll be able to blow the examiner away on the checkride because they didn't give a canned answer. Memorizing is certainly essential for many areas too...