FAA Drone Exam

The _______ is an imaginary line drawn around the Earth that is equally distant from the North and South poles. It divides the Earth into the _________, and it’s considered to be at 0° latitude. here are other imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator around the Earth, and these are the _______.

Equator, Northern and Southern hemispheres,  lines of latitude

an imaginary line that runs vertically down the Earth from the North to the South pole and divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western hemispheres.

prime meridian

As you move North, away from the equator, the latitudinal degree numbers go _____, as you move South, they go _____.

up , down

As you move _____, away from the prime meridian, the longitudinal degree numbers go _____. As you move _____, they go _____.

West, Up. East, Down.

Each degree of latitude and longitude is made up of _____. On a Sectional Chart, these _______ show up as small tic marks that you can actually count.

 60 units called “minutes”

Each longitudinal and latitudinal line is _____ from the next line,

30 minutes

A small magenta colored flag indicates a __________ for manned VFR aircraft. As a drone pilot, you should expect a higher volume of manned aircraft traffic here.

visual reporting checkpoint or waypoint

the literal height above the ground over which you’re flying.

Above Ground Level, or AGL

true altitude or elevation. It’s the average height above standard sea level where the atmospheric pressure is measured in order to calibrate altitude.

Mean Sea Level, or MSL

On a Sectional Chart, all of the numbers you see that denote altitude are denoted in _______ unless _________.

MSL , If you see a number in parentheses, that denotes AGL.

Isogonic lines

magnetic variation or difference between true vs. magnetic north.

quadrangle

 grid that is formed by intersecting lines of latitude and longitude, then we’re calling the inside of each grid space

 Maximum Elevation Figure (MEF)

quadrangle and still be able to clear all obstacles in that quadrangle, including terrain and obstructions. 

Victor Airway

straight-line segment that's used to depict low-altitude civilian air traffic.

Victor Airways are designated as _____ airspace and they start at a base of _____ and go up to but not including _____.

Class E, 1,200 ft. AGL, 18,000 ft

formerly called the Airport/Facility Directory, provides the most comprehensive information on a given airport.

The Chart Supplement U.S.

At an airport, each runway is labeled with ______, and that number corresponds to the runway’s magnetic, or compass, alignment.

 a number between 1 and 36

As an example, Runway 9 indicates _______ and Runway 27 indicates. To put it another way, Runway 9 points _______, Runway 18 points _______, Runway 27 points _______, and Runway 36 points _______.

090° magnetic, 270° magnetic, East (90°), South (180°), West (270°), North (360°).

Runways are typically used in both directions, but remember that each direction is named separately, so Runway ___ in one direction is Runway ___ in the other direction.

he normal traffic pattern at an airport is a ______.

In an ideal flight pattern, aircraft are taking off and landing into a _____, and runways are typically designed to take advantage of _____.

 headwind, normal wind patterns

A manned aircraft pilot should arrive at the proper _________ prior to entering the traffic pattern.

traffic pattern altitude

The recommended entry position to an airport traffic pattern is to enter __________ at traffic pattern altitude.

45° at the midpoint of the downwind leg

An aircraft in distress always has _____ over all other air traffic.

right of way

When it comes to other aircraft you might encounter, from helicopters to gliders, powered parachutes, and balloons, your sUAS should ______.

yield right of way

If you happen to be operating a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft and are approaching another, similar-sized fixed-wing unmanned aircraft

both pilots should alter course to the right.

To comply with See and Avoid requirements, a Remote PIC cannot use _________.

 first-person view camera or binoculars to assist

According to the FAA, to properly scan for other aircraft in the sky, you should _________.

systematically focus on different segments of the sky for short intervals of no more than 10°.

If the color of an airport icon is blue _____.

If the color of an airport icon is magenta ______.

the airport has an operating control tower.

the airport does not have a control tower.

Class B Airspace: "Big City"

airports marked by solid blue lines, require airspace authorization.

Class C Airspace: "City"

airports marked by solid magenta lines, require airspace authorization.

110/SFC means

controlled airspace from the surface up to 11,000 ft. MSL.

110/20 means

controlled airspace from 2,000 ft. MSL up to 11,000 ft. MSL.

Class D Airspace: "Diminutive" or "Dime-Sized"

airports marked by dashed blue circles or sets of lines, requires airspace authorization.

[25] means

Class D controlled airspace from the surface up to 2,500 ft. MSL.

[-25] means

Class D controlled airspace from the surface up to (but not including) 2,500 ft. MSL.

When a Class D airport tower is closed

the airspace is no longer Class D. It becomes Class E or Class G, depending on the specific airport

Class E Airspace: "Elemental" or "Everywhere,"

is controlled airspace.

Class E Airspace at the surface is marked by

a magenta-dashed circle or set of lines

1. If it’s a Class E airport that’s surrounded by a closed off circle or circle with enclosed extensions _____.

2. If it’s only an extension area______.

1. you need authorization.

2. you do not need an airspace authorization but should still exercise extreme caution.

Class E Airspace starting at 700 ft. AGL is marked by

a thick, fuzzy magenta shaded set of lines. You do not need authorization to fly in this type of Class E.

Class E airspace starting at 1,200 ft. AGL

isn't marked on a chart. Meaning, if you’re looking at a sectional chart without any class of airspace indicated, (most of the airspace in the U.S.), it’s Class G airspace from the surface up to 1,200 ft. AGL, and then it becomes Class E controlled airspace.

Class G airspace

 uncontrolled airspace, meaning that as long as there aren’t other special use airspace considerations or NOTAM / TFR considerations, you do not need additional authorization.

Special Use airspace is defined by

areas in which certain activities must be confined or where limitations may be imposed on aircraft operations that are not part of those activities.

Prohibited areas are marked with

 “P” and a number; no flying allowed.

Restricted areas are marked with

“R” and a number and outlined with blue hash marks.

Restricted areas

you might find unusual, often invisible, hazards to aircraft like artillery firing, aerial gunnery, or guided missiles. Drone pilots can fly in Restricted areas, but you need to contact the controlling agency in charge of the area for specific permission.

Warning areas are similar to Restricted areas but marked

 “W”

Military Operations Areas

marked with MOA on a chart. In an MOA, each pilot is responsible for collision avoidance

How to find out if an MOA is “hot”, or active.

refer to the border of the Sectional Chart and then contact the controlling agency for more information.

Alert areas

depicted on Sectional charts with an “A” followed by a number to inform nonparticipating pilots of areas that may contain a high volume of pilot training or an unusual type of aerial activity.

you can fly in an Alert area, but you should exercise extreme caution and each pilot is responsible for collision avoidance in an Alert area.

A Military Training Route (MTR)

used by the military for conducting low-altitude, high-speed flight training at speeds in excess of 250 knots (that's almost 300 mph).

On a Sectional Chart, MTRs are identified as either IFR (IR) or VFR (VR), followed by a number

MTRs with four numbers denote

routes flown at 1,500 ft. AGL and below. At such a low altitude, this can present challenges to an unmanned aircraft.

MTRs with three numbers denote

routes flown with at least one segment above 1,500 ft. AGL.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)

restriction on an area of airspace due to the movement of government VIPs, special events, natural disasters, or other unusual events.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)

describes airspace information that is time-critical and either of a temporary nature or not sufficiently known in advance to permit publication on aeronautical charts or in other operational publications.

Must be at least ____ old to get a Remote Pilot Certificate 

16 years old

Must report an accident to the FAA within ____ of any operation that results in _____ .

10 calendar days / serious injury or property damage over $500

Must successfully complete an online recurrent training course (ALC-677) every _____ to maintain certification currency

24 calendar months

A "small" unmanned aircraft weighs _______ .

less than 55 pounds

Part 107 applies to _____, NOT public aircraft operated under a COA, model aircraft or hobby operations.

civil / commercial operations

You have _____ to notify the FAA of your change of address.

30 days

The ____ is directly responsible for and is the final authority on the operation of the sUAS conducted under Part 107.

Remote PIC

If you are a Remote PIC, and you want to pass the controls to another Remote IPC in the middle of a flight operation, you must _____ .

ensure that the incoming pilot is certified, briefed, and that there's a positive transfer of control procedures (“You have control” / “I have control”).

Non-certificated operators can fly an sUAS, but only if _________ .

they’re being directly supervised by a certificated Remote PIC who has the ability to immediately take direct control of the sUAS. One way to do this is via a “buddy box” training system with one cord that connects two different control stations / remote controls / transmitters.

Even though Visual Observers and other crew members aren’t required to be certificated, they still can’t participate in the operation if ________.

they’re not in a physical or mental state to do so. This includes being too hungover, fatigued, and the other health and wellness considerations a Remote PIC would factor in prior to operating an sUAS.

Each UA registered under Part 107 costs $5 and is ________.

valid for 3 years

Update your FAA Drone Zone account within _____ if your info changes

14 Days

If your UAS is destroyed, sold, lost, or transferred to another operator, you should _____

cancel your registration through the FAA’s online registration system.

Part 48 —

online and for drones under 55lbs

Part 47 —

paper-based and for drones 55lbs or more

registration number

on the drone’s exterior — no special tools required

Minimum age to register a drone is

13

The FAA does not allow ________ across different countries.

dual registration

If the drone has Remote ID and is registered in a country outside the U.S., the operator must submit a ____ to the FAA through their FAADroneZone account before flying.

Notice of Identification (NOI)

In case of an in-flight emergency, you are permitted to deviate from any rule of Part 107 to the extent necessary to respond to that emergency. You only need to ______

report the incident if details are requested by the FAA. The actual rule states that you would send a written report “upon request of the Administrator,” so just a heads up that a deviation report isn’t required, but you may be asked for one.

Your UAS may not be flown faster than a groundspeed of

87 knots, which is equivalent to 100 miles per hour.

Minimum visibility, as observed from where you’re operating the sUAS / where your transmitter is, must be

at least 3 statute miles (SM).

If there are clouds, the aircraft must be at least _____ .

500 feet below the clouds and at least 2,000 feet horizontally from the clouds.

You cannot fly an unmanned aircraft higher than _________, unless it’s flown within a _____ radius of a structure and does not fly higher than ______ above the structure’s immediate uppermost limit.

400 feet above ground level (AGL)

Scheduled maintenance should be performed in accordance with the _________.

manufacturer’s suggested procedures.

Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) must be accomplished and maintained by ______ .

unaided vision. You can wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, but you cannot use binoculars. Looking through a first-person-view (FPV) screen doesn’t count as VLOS.

Your blood alcohol level needs to be less than _______.

 .04 percent

At least ______ need to pass between drinking alcohol and piloting an unmanned aircraft (or taking part as another crewmember).

8 hours

It takes ______ for just one mixed drink to get through the body.

 3 hours

If there is any doubt regarding the effects of any medication, contact ______

contact your local Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).

Want more information on the possible effects on flying or using over-the-counter medications?

Look in the Aeromedical Factors chapter of the Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

You can actually lose your remote pilot certificate and/or not be allowed to apply for a certificate in the first place for up to one year

if there’s been any recent federal or state alcohol or drug violations. That includes refusing to submit to a blood alcohol test

Do not operate your drone from a moving vehicle or aircraft unless

you are flying your drone over a sparsely populated area

Unless you’re flying an unmanned aircraft that has been approved for operations in Category 1 - 4, flights over a human being are prohibited unless that human being is:

(a) Directly participating in the operation of the small unmanned aircraft; or (b) Located under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can provide reasonable protection from a falling small unmanned aircraft

Category 1

• Unmanned aircraft must weigh 0.55 lbs or less, including everything on board or attached; 

• Does not require labeling and must not have exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin; 

• Does not require an FAA-accepted Means of Compliance (MOC) or Declaration of Compliance (DOC)

• Sustained flight over open-air assemblies is prohibited unless the aircraft is equipped with standard Remote ID or a Remote ID broadcast module

Category 2

• Unmanned aircraft weigh over 0.55 lbs.; must not have exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin and must be labeled as Category 2

• Does not contain any safety defects and it must not cause injury to a human being with an impact greater than 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy 

• Requires FAA-accepted means of compliance and declaration of compliance.

• Sustained flight over open-air assemblies is prohibited unless the aircraft is equipped with standard Remote ID or a Remote ID broadcast module

Category 3

• Unmanned aircraft weigh over 0.55 lbs.; must not have exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin and must be labeled as Category 3

• Does not contain any safety defects and it must not cause injury to a human being with an impact greater than 25 foot-pounds of kinetic energy.  

• Requires an FAA-accepted means of compliance and declaration of compliance.

• Must not operate the unmanned aircraft over open-air assemblies 

• Operations must be within or over a closed or restricted access site and all people within the site must be on notice that a small unmanned aircraft may fly over them.

• May only maintain sustained flight over people directly participating in flight operations or located under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle

Category 4

• Unmanned aircraft must have an airworthiness certificate issued under Part 21 and the operating limitations must not prohibit operations over human beings.  

• Must be operated in accordance with the operating limitations specified in the approved Flight Manual and must maintain documentation of maintenance, preventive maintenance, alterations, and inspections performed for a period of 1 year.

• Sustained flight over open-air assemblies is prohibited unless the aircraft is equipped with standard Remote ID or a Remote ID broadcast module
  

Category Labeling

The FAA allows the small unmanned aircraft to be labeled by any means as long as the label is in English, legible, prominent, and permanently affixed to the aircraft. If a label degrades and is no longer legible or attached to the aircraft, the remote pilot is responsible for providing a new label before operating over people.

Means of Compliance (MOC)

a method to show that a small unmanned aircraft does not exceed the applicable injury severity limit upon impact with a human being, does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin, and does not contain any safety defects