determined2fly

what do you mean by avaiation mental math? please shed some light on this. Thankyou.

Codguy

The WFFF question list referenced above has some pretty specific examples of the type of questions, but generally things along these lines:

-Calculating VDP's (timing and distance/DME)
-Mach number / TAS to groundspeed in miles/minute
-Descent rate required / when to start descent to meet crossing restrictions.
-Rough crosswind component based on hdg and wind speed/direction
-Hdg correction required to compensate for x-winds
-60 to 1 rule problems
-Holding entry headings if you are inbound from x and told to hold at y.
-Given x fuel available and y fuel burn/fuel dump rate how long can you hold/time required to dump to z lbs. etc.

Don't remember any temp conversions, but that would likely qualify as good to know.

Think someone elsewhere already mentioned it, but a friend gave me a copy of "Mental Math for Pilots" published by asa. Reading through that and doing some of those practice problems was ample "mental math" prep IMHO.

You do get scratch paper for the technical test, but it is timed, so the more you can do in your head the quicker/easier the test is.

Hornet1

Little off the subject but I just wanted to get an idea what kind of schedule a new guy can expect. I assume I will be sitting reserve for a while. What is a typical reserve month like?

I will have to commute wich I know is not ideal and just wanted to get an idea how much I'm going to be gone.

ExtenderBender

Hornet1, glad to see the Psych didn't think we were too crazy and let us through. I was talking with a buddy of mine that is now in the simulator phase of training. He told me that he expects to be holding a line with in 3-4 months on the 737 out of New York. I’m sure you will be looking for LAX or SLC eventually so I am not sure. He also told me that a bunch of guys that were originally supposed to go to New York but wanted Atlanta got switched while in training. I hope that is good news for me since I am trying to get New York based. Good luck!

Hornet1

Hey ExtenderBender,
Glad you made it as well. When are you starting? Any of your buddies that have started tell you what sitting reserves is like.

ExtenderBender

Thanks. I am starting class on the 18th. I have a buddy that is doing his IOE this week on the 737-800 out of JFK, so hopefully I will have some intel on how things are going soon.

Guard Dude

ExtenderBender,
I'll be in class with you on the 18th. Looking forward to getting started!!!

Are you out of McGuire?

G.Dude

Bucking Bar

Congratulations to all those who are getting ready for the school house.

How long was it between your "cleared for training" call to the class date? I have a couple of long trips coming up and would hate to miss a class date, or get a later date.

Hornet1

I actually never really got a "cleared for training" call. I figured no news is good news. I planned on calling them after three weeks if I heard nothing. I got the call for a class date after about two and a half weeks from interview to start about three weeks after that.

ExtenderBender

Yes, I am out of McGuire. I am looking forward to class as well. See you there.