FAA Part 107 Drone Practice Test PDF 2026

FAA Part 107 Drone Practice Test PDF 2026

Flying a drone commercially in the United States requires an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 CFR Part 107. The knowledge test is 60 questions, 2 hours, and covers airspace, weather, aeronautical charts, operating rules, and emergency procedures. A printable FAA Part 107 practice test PDF lets you drill every topic category offline — the kind of focused, no-distraction practice that turns unfamiliar concepts like METAR codes and sectional chart symbology into second nature before test day.

This free download targets the areas where most first-time test-takers lose points: airspace classification, LAANC authorization requirements, sectional chart reading, and weather interpretation. Work through it twice — once open-book to learn the material, once closed-book to simulate the real exam.

What the Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate Allows

A Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate authorizes commercial drone operations in the United States — flying for hire, filming for clients, real estate photography, agricultural surveys, infrastructure inspection, news coverage, and any other drone use that involves compensation or business purposes. Recreational flying under the FAA Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) program is a separate, simpler pathway — but it does not allow any commercial activity.

Under Part 107, you can fly small UAS (under 55 lbs) during daylight (or civil twilight with anti-collision lighting), within visual line of sight (VLOS), at or below 400 feet above ground level (AGL), and in uncontrolled airspace (Class G) without additional authorization. Flying in controlled airspace requires prior authorization through LAANC or the FAA DroneZone system.

Airspace Classification

Airspace classification is the most tested topic on Part 107. The US National Airspace System (NAS) is divided into six classes: A, B, C, D, E, and G. Understanding which class you're in — and what authorization you need — is fundamental to legal drone operations.

Class A

Class A airspace is from 18,000 feet MSL to Flight Level 600. All flights require an IFR clearance and ATC communication. Drone operations in Class A are extremely rare and require FAA waiver. Not a common exam topic for Part 107 but you need to know it exists.

Class B

Class B airspace surrounds the nation's busiest airports (major hubs like LAX, JFK, ATL, ORD). It's shaped like an inverted wedding cake — multiple layers with different floor/ceiling altitudes. UAS flight requires prior FAA authorization (LAANC if available; otherwise FAA DroneZone waiver). Never assume LAANC approval is instant in Class B — grid availability varies.

Class C

Class C surrounds airports with moderate traffic (roughly 400,000+ annual operations). It has two layers: a 5 NM radius inner circle from surface to 4,000 feet AGL, and a 10 NM radius outer circle from 1,200 feet AGL to 4,000 feet AGL. UAS operations require LAANC authorization or DroneZone waiver.

Class D

Class D surrounds smaller towered airports. The standard configuration is a 4 NM radius from surface to 2,500 feet AGL. UAS operations require authorization. Many Class D airports have LAANC available for immediate authorization at lower altitudes.

Class E

Class E is controlled airspace that doesn't fall into B, C, or D. It includes the airspace above 14,500 feet MSL, transition areas around airports, and airways. Class E airspace starts at different altitudes depending on context — 700 feet AGL in many transition areas, 1,200 feet AGL in en-route sections. Part 107 operators need authorization to fly in Class E airspace that starts at the surface (shown as dashed magenta on sectional charts).

Class G

Class G is uncontrolled airspace. No ATC authorization is required for UAS operations. Most Class G airspace below 400 feet AGL (away from airports) is where drone operators do most of their work without any authorization. Class G can extend up to 14,500 feet MSL in some areas, but practically all Part 107 work happens below 400 feet AGL in Class G.

LAANC: Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability

LAANC is the FAA's automated authorization system for drone flights in controlled airspace. Using an FAA-approved app (AirMap, Kittyhawk, DJI FlySafe, Aloft, and others), you submit a flight request that is automatically approved in seconds if your requested altitude is within the pre-defined grid ceiling for that area. LAANC grids are published on UAS Facility Maps (available at faa.gov) and show the maximum altitude approved for instant authorization — commonly 0 feet, 100 feet, 200 feet, or 400 feet depending on the grid square.

LAANC does not cover all controlled airspace and cannot authorize waivers for special operating rules (night flight before FAA rule changes, operations over people, BVLOS). For those, you need a formal Part 107 waiver through the FAA DroneZone portal, which takes weeks to months.

Weather and METAR Reading

Weather is the second-largest content area on Part 107. You need to interpret METARs (Meteorological Aerodrome Reports), TAFs (Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts), and PIREPs (Pilot Reports) at a basic level. METARs are issued hourly and report actual conditions at airport weather stations.

A typical METAR: METAR KBOS 141755Z 27015G25KT 10SM FEW020 BKN080 15/08 A2992 RMK AO2. Breaking this down: KBOS = Boston Logan, 1755Z on the 14th, wind 270° at 15 knots gusting to 25, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 2,000 feet, broken ceiling at 8,000 feet, temp 15°C dew point 8°C, altimeter 29.92 inHg. You don't need to decode every METAR field for Part 107, but you must understand cloud cover, visibility, wind speed/gusts, and how they affect UAS operations.

Density altitude matters when flying at higher elevations or in hot, humid conditions. High density altitude reduces lift — a drone that performs normally at sea level on a cool day may underperform on a hot day at a 5,000-foot elevation airport. The exam tests awareness of density altitude effects.

Sectional Chart Reading

Sectional aeronautical charts are printed maps of US airspace used by pilots and drone operators to identify airspace classes, airports, obstacles, and restricted areas. Part 107 exam questions include sectional chart excerpts you must interpret.

Key chart symbols for drone operators: airports (blue = towered Class D/C/B, magenta = non-towered); airspace boundaries (solid blue = Class B outer ring, solid/dashed blue = Class C, dashed blue = Class D, dashed magenta = Class E surface area, faded/no line = Class G); restricted and prohibited areas (labeled R-XXXX or P-XXXX in blue); obstacles (towers, antennas — shown with height AGL and MSL); VORs and airways. The exam will give you a sectional excerpt and ask what authorization you need to fly at a specific location and altitude.

Part 107 Operating Rules

Beyond airspace, the exam tests the operating rules in 14 CFR Part 107. The key rules: fly only during daylight or civil twilight (30 minutes before sunrise, 30 minutes after sunset) with anti-collision lighting visible 3 statute miles; maintain visual line of sight (VLOS) with the drone at all times without visual aid (glasses are permitted, binoculars are not); yield right of way to all manned aircraft; do not fly over people who are not directly involved in the operation; maximum speed 87 knots (100 mph); maximum altitude 400 feet AGL (or 400 feet above the structure if flying within 400 feet of a structure).

Registration: all UAS between 0.55 lbs and 55 lbs must be registered with the FAA ($5, valid 3 years). Registration number must be displayed on the outside of the drone. Failure to register is a federal violation.

Waivers and Special Operations

Certain Part 107 operations require a waiver from the FAA: operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), nighttime operations without anti-collision lighting (prior to rule updates allowing night with lighting), operations over people, operations from a moving vehicle in populated areas, and operations in restricted/prohibited airspace. Waiver applications are submitted through FAA DroneZone and require a detailed safety case. Processing takes weeks to months. The exam tests which operations require waivers — not the waiver application process itself.

Recurrent Training

The Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is valid indefinitely, but to exercise privileges you must complete recurrent aeronautical knowledge training every 24 calendar months. The recurrent training is an online course at faasafety.gov — free, approximately 1–2 hours. After completing it, you can log into FAA IACRA and update your certificate. If your knowledge test or recurrent training lapses, you cannot legally fly commercially until you complete the recurrent training (you do not need to retake the original 60-question knowledge test if you completed it within the past 24 months and your certificate is still valid).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a pilot's license to get Part 107?

No. The Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is a standalone FAA certificate. You do not need a private pilot license or any prior aviation experience. You must be at least 16 years old, pass the 60-question knowledge test at an approved testing center, and submit your application through FAA IACRA. The TSA security threat assessment happens automatically after you apply.

Can I fly my drone at night with a Part 107 certificate?

Yes, as of the FAA's 2021 Remote ID and night operations rule update. Night operations under Part 107 require anti-collision lighting on the drone that is visible for 3 statute miles (the lighting must flash at a rate sufficient to avoid a collision). You do not need a waiver for nighttime operations if you have proper lighting — but you must still maintain VLOS.

What is the difference between Part 107 and recreational flying?

Part 107 allows commercial drone operations (flying for compensation, in the course of business, or for hire). Recreational flying under the FAA Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) is for purely personal, non-commercial use. Recreational flyers must fly within the CBO (Community Based Organization) safety guidelines, cannot operate in certain airspace without authorization, and cannot accept any compensation. If there is any business purpose to your flight, you need Part 107.