Get an enormous head start on your competition by putting your maths skills to use whilst learning some of the harder material taken directly from the ATPL syllabus!

Who is this course for?

Our Advanced Pilot Maths course is specifically designed for those who have attained an O-Level or GCSE maths qualification within the last 5 years, at grade B (the new level 6) or above. It is also suitable for those who have taken our Basic and Standard Pilot Maths courses. In a nutshell, if you’re familiar with a scientific calculator, BIDMAS, algebraic manipulation, Pythagoras and trigonometry, and wish to get a head start on the harder ATPL subjects before actually studying for them, then this course is for you!

The advanced course is particularly aimed at those about to embark upon their ATPL ground school and who wish to learn some of the harder material in advance. It is for those who are strong at maths,  particularly those who passed their PPL ground exams by attending a formal PPL ground school course and/or learnt the material from the books and the required mathematical techniques.

Why do I need to study this?

This course is designed to apply the maths skills you already have and tackle many of the demanding individual topics that you’ll meet at ATPL level in the harder subjects such as General Navigation, Flight Planning and Mass & Balance. You’ll quite literally be learning ATPL topics and doing ATPL questions. This course will ensure you’re well ahead of the competition when attending your  ATPL theory and flight training courses!

Many airlines are also using questions that utilise the techniques taught on our courses for their own interviews and selection processes.

Where should I study Pilot Maths?

If you’re about to commence your ATPL ground school, the course providers nearly always assume that you have an adequate background in maths. The trouble is, they rarely define what ‘adequate’ means and often refer you to third party books and computer based training that includes material that is just not relevant for Pilot training, thereby wasting time and money.

Please also bear in mind that many flying and ground instructors are not qualified teachers either. That’s not to say that they cannot teach you anything, but there is a fundamental difference between an instructor and a teacher. Teachers usually have a university degree in a specialist subject and then complete a teacher training course over one or more years and are well versed in different learning styles. Flight Instructor courses do not have any specific entrance requirements and only include 5 hours of classroom based instruction on the 30 hour course that they attend. This is one of the primary reasons that many schools do not offer ground school courses, particularly in mathematics. So, come to The Great Circle for your Pilot Maths course. We’ll ensure you’re adequately prepared for your pilot training journey from start to finish. It’s your time, it’s your money, get it right first time and train with us.

Who will teach me?

All of our courses are delivered by extremely talented, patient and enthusiastic instructors who are both qualified teachers with Maths & Physics Degrees, and professional pilots with a wealth of operational flying experience. We care about your needs and tailor our courses to your particular learning style.

What will I study on this course?

You will study the mathematics that enables you to perform the advanced calculations required for the ATPL exams. Course content includes:

Scale: Chart Distance, Earth Distance and Map Scales.

Plotting: Latitude & Longitude, Range, Bearings and Cross-Cuts from Nav aids.

Departure & Convergency: Distances and track changes along Rhumb Lines and Great Circles.

Point of Safe Return & Equal Time Points: Utilising algebra and conversions for high speed jet calculations.


Certificates & References

Upon completion of our Pilot Maths courses, you will be provided with a certificate of attendance. Should you wish to be formally assessed at the end of the course, your examination mark will be added to your certificate if you choose. Please note, formal end of course assessment is purely optional.

We also provide a reference service for those applying for sponsored training and jobs with airlines, our previous clients have found this invaluable. Our courses have literally meant the difference between sponsorship and having to self fund training for some of our clients.

  Where to stay and eat!

Think Maths & Physics aren't important when learning to fly? Read our article 'Do you have to be good at Maths & Physics to be a Pilot?'

  We donate a proportion of your course fee to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.