FAA 107 Physiological Effects & Pilot Fitness 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary risk of fatigue during remote UAS operations?
- Reduced physical strength making the controller hard to hold
- Impaired judgment, slower reaction time, and increased error rate (Correct answer)
- Better sensitivity to light making displays harder to read
- Increased heart rate leading to overconfidence
Correct answer: Impaired judgment, slower reaction time, and increased error rate
Fatigue most critically degrades cognitive function, slowing reaction times and impairing the decision-making needed to respond safely to inflight emergencies.
Question 2: Which visual scanning technique is recommended to help remote pilots detect other aircraft in the airspace around them?
- Keeping eyes fixed on the drone at all times
- Systematic sector-by-sector scanning of the sky in short, focused segments (Correct answer)
- Relying exclusively on FPV goggles for awareness
- Only scanning in the direction the drone is traveling
Correct answer: Systematic sector-by-sector scanning of the sky in short, focused segments
Systematic sector scanning, moving the eyes in short, overlapping segments across the sky, is the most effective method for detecting other aircraft and maintaining situational awareness.
Question 3: What is spatial disorientation in the context of small UAS operations?
- Not knowing the GPS coordinates of the operating area
- Flying in geographic territory the pilot is unfamiliar with
- Loss of accurate perception of the drone's attitude, altitude, or position relative to the ground (Correct answer)
- Operating a UAS beyond its approved operational area
Correct answer: Loss of accurate perception of the drone's attitude, altitude, or position relative to the ground
Spatial disorientation occurs when a remote pilot loses accurate situational awareness of the drone's orientation or position, which can lead to loss of control.
Question 4: A remote pilot is preparing for an afternoon flight but realizes they slept only 4 hours the previous night. What is the BEST course of action?
- Fly as planned since drones are easy to operate
- Drink coffee to compensate and proceed with the flight
- Assign a visual observer to handle airspace scanning while they focus on flying
- Postpone or cancel the flight until adequately rested (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Postpone or cancel the flight until adequately rested
Significant sleep deprivation impairs judgment and reaction time similarly to alcohol intoxication, and the safest action is to postpone the operation.
Question 5: How can looking directly into the sun affect a remote pilot's ability to maintain visual line of sight with a UAS?
- It improves visibility by illuminating the drone
- It causes temporary blindness or loss of contrast that can make the drone difficult or impossible to see (Correct answer)
- It only affects operations above 400 feet AGL
- It has no significant effect if the pilot wears sunglasses
Correct answer: It causes temporary blindness or loss of contrast that can make the drone difficult or impossible to see
Glare from the sun can temporarily overpower the visual system, making it difficult to detect and track a small UAS against a bright background.
Question 6: Which of the following is a recognized sign that a remote pilot may be experiencing fatigue during an operation?
- Making more control inputs and errors than usual (Correct answer)
- Feeling highly alert and energetic
- Flying faster and more aggressively than normal
- Communicating more frequently with the crew
Correct answer: Making more control inputs and errors than usual
Increased error rate and more frequent control corrections are classic symptoms of fatigue, indicating degraded fine motor control and attention.
Question 7: What role does hypoxia play for a remote pilot conducting ground-based UAS operations at high-elevation locations such as mountainous terrain?
- Hypoxia only affects manned aircraft pilots at altitude and is irrelevant to remote pilots
- Hypoxia has no effect below 10,000 feet MSL under any circumstances
- Mild hypoxia at elevations above approximately 5,000–8,000 feet can subtly impair judgment and mental performance (Correct answer)
- Hypoxia increases alertness and improves decision-making at high elevations
Correct answer: Mild hypoxia at elevations above approximately 5,000–8,000 feet can subtly impair judgment and mental performance
Even at moderate elevations, reduced oxygen availability can impair cognitive function, and remote pilots at high-altitude ground sites should be aware of potential hypoxic effects.
FAA 107 Physiological Effects & Pilot Fitness 2
What is the primary risk of fatigue during remote UAS operations?