Weather & Micrometeorology for Drone Operations Flashcards
7 cards from real RPC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Weather & Micrometeorology for Drone Operations flashcards as text
According to FAA guidelines, what minimum flight visibility is required for sUAS operations under 14 CFR Part 107?
Answer: 3 statute miles
Part 107 requires a minimum flight visibility of 3 statute miles from the control station, regardless of the operating altitude.
A pilot notices that ATIS is reporting OVC005. Which weather condition does this indicate?
Answer: Overcast sky with a ceiling at 500 feet AGL
In aviation weather reporting, ceiling height is given in hundreds of feet AGL, so OVC005 means an overcast ceiling at 500 feet AGL.
What is the primary weather hazard associated with flying a drone in freezing rain or freezing drizzle?
Answer: Ice accumulation on propellers and airframe degrading lift and control
Freezing precipitation deposits ice on spinning propellers and the airframe, altering aerodynamic profiles and potentially causing loss of control.
Thermal activity is most intense during which time period on a sunny day?
Answer: Early to mid-afternoon when ground heating is at its peak
Thermal updrafts peak in early to mid-afternoon when solar heating has warmed the surface to its daily maximum, maximizing convective energy.
When reading a winds aloft forecast (FB winds), the entry '9900' means:
Answer: Light and variable winds
In winds aloft forecasts, '9900' is a coded entry meaning winds are light and variable (less than 5 knots).
A drone pilot is operating in an area where a dust devil forms nearby. The immediate best action is to:
Answer: Land the drone immediately and wait for the disturbance to pass
Dust devils contain rapid upward spiraling winds that can instantly flip or severely destabilize a small drone, making immediate landing the safest response.
Which type of fog requires wind for its formation and typically forms when warm moist air moves over a cooler surface?
Answer: Advection fog
Advection fog forms when warm, moist air is transported horizontally over a cooler surface, cooling the air to its dew point, and requires wind to develop and persist.