A2 CofC - Drone Certificate of Competency Human Factors and Airmanship Questions and Answers Flashcards

A remote pilot has flown the same survey mission over a rural field more than 20 times. For their next flight, they decide not to perform a physical walk of the site to check for new obstacles, assuming nothing will have changed. This behaviour is a classic example of which hazardous attitude?

Answer: Complacency

Complacency is a hazardous attitude that arises from familiarity and repetition. The pilot falsely assumes that because previous flights were safe and uneventful, future flights will be as well, leading them to skip crucial safety checks like a site walk, which could fail to identify new hazards.

During an A2 operation, the wind speed begins to gust close to the UAS manufacturer's stated operational limits. Although the primary photographic task is not yet complete, the remote pilot prioritises safety and decides to land immediately. This action is a prime example of:

Answer: Good airmanship

Good airmanship is the consistent use of good judgment and well-developed skills to accomplish flight objectives. In this scenario, recognising the deteriorating weather, respecting the aircraft's limits, and prioritising safety over completing the task demonstrates excellent airmanship and decision-making.

The 'IMSAFE' checklist is a self-assessment tool recommended by the CAA for pilots to determine their fitness to fly. A remote pilot who is suffering from a severe head cold and sinus congestion would be considered unfit to fly primarily under which category?

Answer: Illness

The 'I' in the IMSAFE checklist stands for Illness. A head cold, particularly with sinus congestion, can impair judgment, concentration, and even balance, making it unsafe to operate a UAS. Any form of sickness is a primary reason to ground oneself.

A remote pilot is being pressured by a client to fly closer to a building than they are comfortable with, in order to get a specific shot. The pilot feels conflicted between satisfying the client and maintaining a safe distance. This is a classic example of what type of human factor?

Answer: External Pressure

External pressure is pressure to complete a flight or a specific manoeuvre that comes from an outside source, such as a client, employer, or peers. It can lead pilots to make decisions that compromise safety. A key part of good airmanship is resisting such pressures.

A remote pilot is working with a visual observer to monitor a large area. Which of the following is the most critical element of their communication protocol to ensure flight safety and shared situational awareness?

Answer: Establishing clear, pre-briefed, and unambiguous terminology for commands and observations.

While standard phraseology can be useful, the absolute priority for a small crew is that communication is clear, easily understood, and unambiguous. A pre-flight briefing should establish what terms will be used for key events (e.g., 'obstacle right', 'land now', 'person approaching') to ensure there is no confusion during the operation.

A remote pilot experiences an unexpected loss of the main video feed from their UAS. However, telemetry data is still being received, and the aircraft is responding to controls. Their pre-planned emergency procedure for this specific failure is to initiate the Return to Home (RTH) function. What does good airmanship dictate?

Answer: Follow the pre-defined emergency procedure and initiate RTH.

Good airmanship involves having and trusting your emergency procedures. The pilot has already assessed the risk of a video feed loss and determined the safest course of action during pre-flight planning. In the actual event, the correct action is to follow that pre-defined procedure without hesitation, as it represents the pilot's most rational and considered judgment made in a non-stressful environment.