FAA 107 Payload & Performance Calculations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sUAS has a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 4.4 lbs. The drone itself weighs 3.2 lbs. What is the maximum payload it can carry while remaining legal under Part 107?
- 1.2 lbs (Correct answer)
- 0.8 lbs
- 1.6 lbs
- 4.4 lbs
Correct answer: 1.2 lbs
Payload capacity equals MTOW minus drone weight: 4.4 - 3.2 = 1.2 lbs.
Question 2: Which factor most directly determines how payload weight affects drone flight endurance?
- Increased motor current draw depletes battery faster (Correct answer)
- Heavier payload improves aerodynamic efficiency
- Payload weight only affects horizontal speed
- Payload reduces propeller RPM without affecting current
Correct answer: Increased motor current draw depletes battery faster
Additional payload forces motors to draw more current to maintain lift, which drains the battery more quickly.
Question 3: A commercial drone operator needs to carry a 0.5 lb camera package. The drone battery weighs 0.4 lbs and the airframe weighs 2.8 lbs. What is the total system weight for FAA compliance purposes?
- 3.7 lbs (Correct answer)
- 3.3 lbs
- 3.2 lbs
- 4.1 lbs
Correct answer: 3.7 lbs
Total weight includes airframe + battery + payload: 2.8 + 0.4 + 0.5 = 3.7 lbs.
Question 4: Under FAA Part 107, the 55 lb weight limit for sUAS refers to:
- The total weight of the aircraft including everything onboard at takeoff (Correct answer)
- The empty weight of the airframe only
- The weight of the payload alone
- The combined weight of all batteries used in a flight day
Correct answer: The total weight of the aircraft including everything onboard at takeoff
Part 107 defines 55 lbs as the maximum takeoff weight including the aircraft, payload, batteries, and all attached equipment.
Question 5: A drone rated for a maximum payload of 2 lbs is loaded with a 1.8 lb sensor package. How does this affect the drone's performance compared to flying without a payload?
- Reduced endurance and potentially reduced top speed (Correct answer)
- Improved stability with no effect on endurance
- Increased endurance due to lower propeller load
- No change because 1.8 lbs is under the rated capacity
Correct answer: Reduced endurance and potentially reduced top speed
Any added payload increases motor load and battery consumption, reducing endurance and possibly limiting top speed even if within rated limits.
Question 6: When calculating whether a sUAS exceeds 55 lbs, which of the following items must be included?
- Airframe, motors, batteries, payload, and any attached accessories (Correct answer)
- Airframe and payload only
- Airframe and batteries only, as payload is considered separate
- Airframe only, as per FAA Advisory Circular
Correct answer: Airframe, motors, batteries, payload, and any attached accessories
The FAA considers all items attached to or carried by the aircraft at takeoff as part of the total weight for the 55 lb limit.
Question 7: A remote pilot notices that adding a heavier payload causes the drone's hover throttle to increase significantly. This primarily indicates:
- Greater power consumption that will shorten available flight time (Correct answer)
- Improved motor efficiency at higher loads
- The drone is operating outside its weight class
- Battery voltage is unaffected by hover throttle changes
Correct answer: Greater power consumption that will shorten available flight time
Higher hover throttle means increased power draw, which directly reduces battery life and total flight time.
FAA 107 Payload & Performance Calculations 2
A sUAS has a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 4.4 lbs.
The drone itself weighs 3.2 lbs.
What is the maximum payload it can carry while remaining legal under Part 107?