The accepted international language for aviation is English. But what if a couple of countries refused to buy into this standard? It would be, at the least, irritating and confusing.
The USA, Liberia, and Myanmar are the only countries not officially using the metric system. Even through I have training in science using the metric system, as an American I don’t think in metric terms without some struggle.
There’s even a name for switching over to the metric system, metrication. I’m going to start trying, by using baby steps.
Everyone talks about the weather; so I’m starting out with temperatures. In most countries in the world someone might say, “Wow, it’s 23 degrees today, this feels great!” To which I think, “It feels good, but what number did you just say?”
So here’s my idea. I’m starting with just three easy metric temperatures.
10, 20, and 30.
Think: fleece weather, long pants weather, and short pants weather.
Or more exactly: 10C = 50F, 20C = 68F, and 30 = 86F.
As you can see in the picture, I’ve put tabs on the thermometer I normally use giving me visual help in associating Celsius (metric) with the corresponding temperatures in Fahrenheit (imperial) that I feel.
A couple of times a day I try to look at the thermometer and figure out what the temperature is and what it feels like.
It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but I’m trying, one degree at a time.