MODULE VII - FAA DRONE EXAM

At sea level, standard air temperature is 15ºC (59ºF), and standard air pressure is

29.92” Hg, or inches of mercury (1013 millibars)

 At standard conditions

density altitude and your pressure altitude will be equal to each other

Density altitude

the altitude at which your aircraft "feels" like it’s flying

 if the density altitude is ______, it means ______.

higher / thinner air.

If the density altitude is _____, it means _____.

low / thicker air

As your density altitude increases, the performance of

your aircraft decreases

density altitude increases at ___

increases at higher elevations, lower atmospheric pressures, higher temperatures, and higher humidity.

flying around large buildings or large natural obstructions can

break up the flow of the wind and create wind gusts that change rapidly in direction and speed

Wind shear

change in wind speed and/or direction over a short distance

Alert to the possibility of wind shear when flying in

thunderstorms, areas of low-level temperature inversion, frontal zones, and clear air turbulence.

temperature inversion

the air is stable and smooth, but because the temperature is increasing, so is the humidity, so, you’ll have poor visibility due to fog, haze, or low clouds.

Evaporation

 is the changing of a liquid to gas

Sublimation

is the changing of a solid to a gas without first becoming a liquid

dew point

the temperature at which the air can hold no more moisture, so it’s at 100% humidity.

Frost is considered hazardous to sUAS operations because

it spoils the smooth flow of air over the propellers or wings and makes it harder for the aircraft to generate lift

cumulonimbus clouds are produced by

1) high humidity — sufficient water vapor or moisture ;

2) unstable conditions — an unstable lapse rate (the lapse rate describes the rate of change of the temperature as the air increases in altitude); and

3) lifting force — an initial upward boost to start the process (heat).

A thunderstorm begins with the _____, in which _____ begins.

cumulus stage, lifting action of the air.

mature stage

the most violent time period of the thunderstorm’s life cycle

entrance of the discipating stage

vertical motion near the top of the cloud slows down, the top of the cloud spreads out and takes on an anvil-like shape

squall line

a nonfrontal, narrow band of thunderstorms usually ahead of a cold front

If you see ______, expect turbulence. Wind can be blowing quite strong through ________.

lenticular

To pilots, the most dangerous type of cloud is a _______, or thunderstorm, cloud. Since rising air currents cause ________ clouds, they are extremely turbulent and pose a significant hazard to flight safety.

cumulonimbus

ceiling

the lowest layer of clouds reported as being broken or overcast, or the vertical visibility into an obscuration like fog or haze.

Unstable air tends to display the following characteristics:

cumuliform clouds, turbulent air, good visibility, and showery precipitation.

Stable air tends to display the following characteristics:

stratiform clouds, smooth air, fair-to-poor visibility in haze and smoke, and continuous precipitation.

Anywhere there is uneven heating of the Earth’s surface, you’ll find ______.

convective currents

updrafts are likely to occur over areas like ______.

downdrafts often occur over ________.

pavement or sand

over water or expansive areas of vegetation like a group of trees

As moist, unstable air rises, clouds often form at the ____.

altitude where temperature and dew point reach the same value

altitude where temperature and dew point reach the same value

air is completely saturated, and moisture begins to condense out of the air in the form of fog, dew, frost, clouds, rain, hail, or snow

Typically, when the temperature and the dew point converge, you will have

 fog