Originally Posted by
USMCFLYR
Can I ask if you know the inner workings of an ILS or Rho Theta system?
Do you fly those approaches fairly well without knowing about the ins and outs of those systems?
There is education, and then there is penny knowledge.
USMCFLYR
I agree, but general understanding of the jetstream hardly qualifies as penny knowledge.
What would you like to know about the ILS or Rho Theta system? Electromagnetic wave propagation characteristics or nutsy-boltsy stuff? Lobing? Obviously, this is not 4 year degree stuff. We are moving beyond that. Aviation College isn't my only background
We can get into real useless stuff such as bipolar junction transistors, Inertial Laser Ring Gyros and all kinds of other gee-whiz stuff.
The above isn't really relevant anymore, but syllabi often seem to lag behind abit. My instrucors were (very old) RAF guys with a syllabus written by even older RAF guys. Calculating convergency angles, celestial nav, critical fraction lenths, and learning about alloy composition characteristics and at what color they burn was the order of the day. Some of it completely useless, but some of it not so completely useless.
I maintain that a tailored academic aviation program, relevant to the modern world combined with real world experience is the best compromise, not just an hour requirement with some basic skillsets.