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FAA’s Part 107 Exam is Probably Harder Than You Think

August 31, 2016 by Malek Murison 5 Comments

So you want to make money with your drone? That’s great, but the FAA’s Part 107 exam (which you now need to pass if you want to legally fly for business purposes) might be a little harder than you were expecting. It’s almost definitely a whole lot better than the previous, expensive and time-consuming system of applying for a Section 333 exemption. But that doesn’t mean this is a walk in the park.

Thinking about taking the test and qualifying as a commercial pilot? You’re not the only one. On Monday 29th when the rule was put into practice, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said that over 3,000 people had already registered to take the Part 107 exam.

So what does it take to become a fully-fledged commercial pilot? Well, just as you need to pass a written test to get your driving license, the FAA now require all commercial pilots to complete a multiple choice exam. The test has 60 questions on a range of topics (more on that later) and you’ll have to score at least 70% to pass.

42 out of 60 seems pretty reasonable. So what exactly are you going to be tested on in the Part 107 exam? Well that’s a question with a big answer. The topics laid out by the FAA are wide-ranging to say the least. They are:

  • Applicable regulations relating to small unmanned aircraft system rating privileges, limitations, and flight operation
  • Airspace classification and operating requirements, and flight restrictions affecting small unmanned aircraft operation
  • Aviation weather sources and effects of weather on small unmanned aircraft performance
  • Small unmanned aircraft loading and performance
  • Emergency procedures
  • Crew resource management
  • Radio communication procedures
  • Determining the performance of small unmanned aircraft
  • Physiological effects of drugs and alcohol
  • Aeronautical decision-making and judgment
  • Airport operations
  • Maintenance and pre-flight inspection procedures

At a glance, that’s a lot of bases to cover. To be honest, you probably need to flick through the FAA’s extremely concise 87-page study guide – just to get you started, that is. You could even read the entire ruling, along with all of the commentary from the FAA, which only runs to around 624 pages. Bedtime reading, anyone?

Read more: Our interview with Kim Wheeler – How to pass the Part 107

The bottom line then? It’s probably best to take this exam more seriously than you would your driving theory test. It’s not something, and nor should it be, that you’re going to be able to pass without a good amount of study.

But even after all of the research and hard hours of study; after all the careful consideration of cartography, in-flight awareness and Morse code, you might find yourself on the end of a classic FAA curveball. Take a look at the question below, which was taken straight out of the sample exam.

part 107 exam FAA
Commercial flying and macho attitudes: a recipe for disaster.

If you don’t quite make the grade then you can take the Part 107 exam again after a 14-day cooling off period. You’ll probably need that time to think seriously about where it all went wrong, and maybe go through those pesky radio communication procedures some more.

Malek Murison
Malek Murison

Malek Murison is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for tech trends and innovation. He handles product reviews, major releases and keeps an eye on the enthusiast market for DroneLife.
Email Malek
Twitter:@malekmurison

Subscribe to DroneLife here.

Filed Under: Enthusiasts, Helpful Hints, Legal, News Tagged With: Commercial Pilots, Exam, Part 107

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David D. says

    February 23, 2017 at 10:32 pm

    Just passed the exam. Was told about the Google UAS107 app, downloaded it a couple of weeks ago for $4. Great app, studied for about 10 days using the app and a little Youtube and passed with a 92%. HooZAAAAH !!!!! Here the app link for anyone looking to take the exam: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uas107.openrobotix.labs&hl=en

    Reply
  2. Dietmar Neidhardt says

    September 5, 2016 at 11:03 am

    Thanks for your great feedback. I’m preparing for the test and work through the sample questions but can’t find the references for the answers noted on the bottom of the question such as

    Question 25…
    PLT101/UA.V.B.K6A Sources for Airport Data
    1) Where van I find the litherature referenced?
    2) Is that chart provided during the test?
    3) Do you know a good course?

    Can you Help?
    Thanks in advance
    Dietmar

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. So You Got a Drone for Christmas – 6 Things to Do Before You Fly - DFW FlyBy PhotograpghyDFW FlyBy Photograpghy | Drone Services & Aerial Cinematography – FAA Approved says:
    December 25, 2016 at 6:39 pm

    […] purposes, you’ll almost certainly have to register it. You’ll have to pass the FAA’s Part 107 Exam in the […]

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  2. The Weekly Drone Publication: UAS Digest #53 | JDA Journal says:
    September 2, 2016 at 2:11 pm

    […] →  FAA’s Part 107 Exam is Probably Harder Than You Think – So what does it take to become a fully-fledged commercial pilot? Well, just as you need to pass a written test to get your driving license, the FAA now require all commercial pilots to complete a multiple choice exam. The test has 60 questions on a range of topics (more on that later) and you’ll have to score at least 70% to pass. →  FAA Names Members of High-Level Drone Advisory Committee – The FAA has named 35 business, association, municipal and academic leaders to serve on a new Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) to advise it on introducing unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system. RTCA, a not-for-profit organization that functions as a federal advisory body to the FAA. […]

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  3. FAA’s Part 107 Exam is Probably Harder Than You Think | Drone, UAV, Quadcopter a Multi Rotor News says:
    August 31, 2016 at 9:29 pm

    […] post FAA’s Part 107 Exam is Probably Harder Than You Think appeared first on […]

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