Drone Pilot Certification
To fly a drone that weighs more than 0.55lb, you must register it with the FAA. The FAA requires that the drone broadcast a Remote ID. You must include that when registering your drone, unless you register it as recreational.
To get approvals for non-standard flights, you must be a registered pilot. To register as a pilot, you must pass Test 107.
Test 107
NOTE I used pic@thedigitalmachine.com to sign up for my test!
Test is on Tuesday 2023/06/20 at 6pm
5711 Six Forks Rd Suite 208, Raleigh, NC 27609 844-704-1487
https://faa.psiexams.com/faa/login
https://uasdoc.faa.gov/listDocs
https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/default.aspx
https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/testing_matrix
Test 107 resources
Test 107 Q&A
Latitude and Longitude
Measurement from 0-360 degrees, 0-60 minutes, 0-60 seconds.
Latitude: 0 degrees at equator to +90 degrees N at north polar cap and -90 degrees S at south polar cap. US is between
Longitude: 0 degrees at Greenwich, England to +180 degrees E / -180 degrees W.
AGL vs MSL
Mean Sea Level (MSL) is absolute height above standard sea level. Most common. Used to calculate atmospheric pressure, eg.
Above Ground Level (AGL) is the distance from ground to height.
https://www.dronepilotgroundschool.com/kb/what-is-the-difference-between-agl-and-msl/
What is a temperature inversion?
Stable air masses of cooler air trapped by warmer air above it.
Causes clear skies, calm wind, dew/fog, horizontal smoke patterns,
https://www.weather.gov/media/lzk/inversion101.pdf
What is high density altitude?
On a hot, muggy day, the air becomes "thinner" or less dense, and its density at a pilot's location is equivalent to a higher altitude in the standard atmosphere. Thus the term "high density altitude."
Reduced power, thrust, lift, less responsive aircraft.
https://www.weather.gov/zse/HighDensityAltitude
What is a moist unstable air mass?
An unstable air mass is characterized by warm moist air near the surface and cold dry air aloft.
https://glenallenweather.com/alink/20thunder/ingredientsthunderstorms.pdf
Practice test notes
questions:
what airport is at 47 40 N lat and 101 26 W long?
what does the line of latitude at area 4 measure? (n/s of equator)
what is the floor of the Savannah Class C airspace at teh shelf area (outer circle)?
1300 feet AGL | 1300 feet MSL | 1700 feet MSL
Refer to FAA-CT-8080-2H, Figure 59, area 2,
the chart shows a gray line with "VR1667, VR1617, and.." Could this present a hazard to UA?
no, operations will be above 400' | yes this is a mil. training route from surf to 1500 feet AGL | yes th\
e route provides traffic separation to manned aircraft
According to 14 CFR part 107, remote pilot in command (PIC) in Class C airspace..
must use visual observer | is required to file flight plan | req ATC auth
How do you find if Devil's Lake West MOA is active?
refer to chart legend | avail in Small UAS db | refer to mil. ops. directory
Refer to FAA-CT-8080-2H, figure 20, area 5; how would a PIC "CHECK NOTAMS"
as noted in CAUTION box regarding the unmarked balloon?
UA center of gravity limits, see specs in...
UAS flight manual | Aeronautical Info Manual (AIM) | Aircraft Weight/Bal handbook
When op'ing a fixed-wing UAS, PIC shd note that load factor on wings may increase...
the CG is shifted rearward to the aft CG limit | non-straight-level flight | gross weight reduced
Stall when smooth airflow over wing of fixed UAS is disrupted and lift degens. Cause:
exceed max speed | exceed weight | exceed critical angle of attack
Refer to figure 2; for fixed UAS of 33lbs, what weight req of structure during 30 degree banked turn while mai\
ntaining altitude?
34 | 47 | 38
What is true regarding presence of alcohol in human body?
vision boost | water helps | judgement affected DOH
Who is responsible for briefing participants about emerg. procedures?
the remote PIC
To avoid collision with manned aircraft you went to > 600' AGL. Report to...
Air traffic control | National Transp safetyboard | Upon request of FAA
Fig 26 area 2: Cooperstown CTAF announce midfield left downwind to RWY 13.
east of runway | south | west
Small UA sched. maint.
-> when manuf. doesnt provide | UAS not needed | when FAA requires, after accident
14 CFR part 107 says responsibility to inspect UAS for safety rests with
PIC
To prevent final "link" in accident chain, methodology =
-> Crew Resource Mgmt | Safety Mgmt System | Risk Mgmt
Crew Resource Mgmt (CRM) adapted for UA, integrated into all phases
Bad Attitude = impusivity, machismo, invulnerability
Fig 22 area 2: at Coeur D'Alene, which freq for CTAF to monitor traffic?
122.05 MHz | 135.075 | 122.8
Fig 26 area 4 what auth for 46.9N 98.6W near Jamestown Regional JMS?
mil | -> ATC | Natl Park Serv
Fig 20 area 3 with ATC auth, at 4 SM southeast of ECG, what hazard?
mil ops| unmarked balloon on a cable up to 3008 ft AGL | 3008 ft MSL
Most compr. airport info is from
Chart Supplements US | Notices to Aire Missions NOTAMS | Terminal Area Chart (TAC)
who resp. for determining perf. of UAS
PIC
when must register with FAA?
all > .55lbs
must be 13 to register
after sunset: need anti-collision lights?
1800wxbrief.com says low-level temp inversion w high rel. humidity
smooth air, poor viz | light wind shear, light rain | turbulent air, poor viz, fog... WTF!
what effect does high density altitude have on efficiency of UA propeller?
eff is incr. | eff. is decreased | density alt. does not affect prop eff.
moist unstable air mass =
stable air =
figure 12: wind direction and velocity at KJFK is
180deg true at 4 knots | ... magnetic ... | 040deg true at 18 knots
fig 12 conditions at Midway KMDW? Sky 700 feet overcast, vis 1-1/2sm, rain
when can sUAS PIC reduce lights? when in interest of safety (???) | at no time
sUAS pilot used bright light: takes 30 min to adjust to darkness
if standard remote id fails: land as soon as practical
where must serial number be listed when using standard remote id or a broadcast module?
Doc of compliance | mfr's method of compliance | Certificate of Aircraft Registration
for Category 1 operations, PIC must weigh: < 0.55lbs
which Cat must have airworthyness certificate from FAA? -> 4 | 3 | 2
Take a practice test:
https://faa.psiexams.com/faa/login > (bottom) Unmanned Aircraft General - Small (UAG) > Select
I took it... very educational to understand what the hell to study...
And... they can't print my results, stupid fucks need an MS SQL Server driver or some shit
And... they were supposed to email results. To m@thedigitalmachine.com. Never came.
So... do it again. Keep going!
Background
https://hamradioprep.com/fpv-drones-using-a-ham-radio-license/ https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/become_a_drone_pilot