AMA youth member Alex Livingston explores the STEM behind a commercial pilot's career

AMA youth member Alex Livingston, a sophomore at Tech Valley High School in Albany, New York, and winner of the 2017 #GenSTEM photo contest, visited with Capt. Adam Schindall, a pilot with Southwest Airlines, to explore the STEM behind the cool, high-flying career of a commercial pilot.

Capt. Schindall, a 25-year veteran pilot, says like many students he struggled with understanding the importance of learning math when he was in junior high — but now uses that same math to succeed in his career. “Solving for X? What in the world would I ever need to know that for?” he says, adding: “Pilots do that every day, all day.” Capt. Schindall, who provided expert insight for this classroom activity, hopes to help students get excited about learning math and science, and inspired to pursue STEM careers like aviation. Alex, who has already logged 25 flight hours in single-engine and glider aircraft, is on the path to success in a very cool career.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M80yPX1zjU0[/embed]

View original article>>