FAA 107 Remote Pilot Decision-Making 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A remote pilot discovers a small crack in one propeller before a paid commercial flight. The correct action is to:
- Fly at reduced speed to minimize stress on the propeller
- Replace the propeller before flying; a damaged prop is a safety-of-flight issue (Correct answer)
- Inspect the crack size; fly only if it is less than 1 cm
- Apply tape to the crack and proceed with the mission
Correct answer: Replace the propeller before flying; a damaged prop is a safety-of-flight issue
A cracked propeller can fail in flight causing a crash; the sUAS must be considered unairworthy and the prop must be replaced before any flight.
Question 2: Under what circumstance may a remote pilot legally deviate from Part 107 rules?
- When the client has signed a hold-harmless agreement
- In an emergency requiring immediate action to protect life or property (Correct answer)
- When wind speeds are below 10 knots
- When operating more than 5 miles from an airport
Correct answer: In an emergency requiring immediate action to protect life or property
Part 107.21 allows deviation from any rule to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency, with a report to the FAA required upon request.
Question 3: A remote pilot is pressured by a supervisor to fly over a restricted area to complete a deadline. The best response is to:
- Complete the flight quickly to minimize time in restricted airspace
- Refuse the flight; no business pressure justifies violating airspace restrictions (Correct answer)
- Ask the supervisor to take responsibility in writing first
- File a flight plan and proceed
Correct answer: Refuse the flight; no business pressure justifies violating airspace restrictions
The remote pilot in command is legally responsible for the safety and legality of each flight; business pressure is never a valid justification for regulatory violations.
Question 4: What is the best practice when a remote pilot is unsure whether an area falls within controlled airspace?
- Assume uncontrolled and fly, then verify afterward
- Check an FAA-approved planning tool such as B4UFLY or LAANC before flight (Correct answer)
- Call the nearest airport and ask a controller informally
- Use satellite imagery to estimate distance from the airport
Correct answer: Check an FAA-approved planning tool such as B4UFLY or LAANC before flight
FAA-approved tools like B4UFLY and LAANC provide real-time airspace authorization data and are the correct resources for pre-flight airspace verification.
Question 5: Which of the following BEST describes 'task saturation' for a remote pilot?
- Flying in a location with heavy radio interference
- Having too many tasks to monitor simultaneously, leading to reduced situational awareness (Correct answer)
- Exceeding the maximum payload capacity of the sUAS
- Operating the drone at the limit of its transmission range
Correct answer: Having too many tasks to monitor simultaneously, leading to reduced situational awareness
Task saturation occurs when the pilot's workload exceeds cognitive capacity, increasing the risk of missing critical information or making errors.
Question 6: A remote pilot notices that the battery level dropped 20% faster than expected during the first half of the mission. What should the pilot do?
- Continue; the second half of the battery typically lasts longer
- Return to home immediately and investigate the battery issue before relaunching (Correct answer)
- Switch to a lower power flight mode and complete the mission
- Monitor closely and land only if the level drops below 10%
Correct answer: Return to home immediately and investigate the battery issue before relaunching
Abnormal battery drain indicates a potential malfunction; the pilot must return and inspect the battery to avoid a loss-of-power incident.
Question 7: What is the aeronautical decision-making antidote to the 'Impulsivity' hazardous attitude?
- Rely on instinct; quick reactions save aircraft
- Not so fast—think first and then act (Correct answer)
- Delegate the decision to the visual observer
- Follow standard procedures unless time pressure demands otherwise
Correct answer: Not so fast—think first and then act
The antidote to impulsivity is to pause and think before acting; rushing to 'do something' without analysis often worsens a situation.
FAA 107 Remote Pilot Decision-Making 5
A remote pilot discovers a small crack in one propeller before a paid commercial flight.
The correct action is to: