UAS Mission Planning 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A remote pilot wants to conduct a real estate photography flight in Class E airspace that extends to the surface. What authorization process should be used?
- No authorization is needed for Class E operations
- Submit a request through the FAA LAANC system or DroneZone (Correct answer)
- Contact the nearest FSDO by phone before each flight
- File IFR flight plan 24 hours in advance
Correct answer: Submit a request through the FAA LAANC system or DroneZone
For Class E surface extensions, pilots must obtain authorization via LAANC (if available) or the FAA DroneZone portal.
Question 2: Which weather condition poses the greatest risk to a fixed-wing UAS during a survey mission and must be assessed during planning?
- High humidity reducing camera clarity
- Wind gusts exceeding the drone's maximum wind rating (Correct answer)
- Morning dew on the launch surface
- Reduced barometric pressure causing GPS drift
Correct answer: Wind gusts exceeding the drone's maximum wind rating
Wind gusts exceeding the UAS manufacturer's rated limit can cause loss of control or structural failure during flight.
Question 3: During mission planning, a pilot determines that the target area has multiple tall communication towers nearby but none are depicted on aeronautical charts. Where should the pilot look for this obstacle data?
- FAA Airport Facility Directory
- FAA Digital Obstacle File (DOF) and local survey data (Correct answer)
- METAR weather reports
- SIGMET advisories
Correct answer: FAA Digital Obstacle File (DOF) and local survey data
The FAA Digital Obstacle File and local surveys are the most comprehensive sources for unlighted or recently constructed obstacles not yet charted.
Question 4: A commercial drone pilot is planning a long-range mapping flight. Which flight planning parameter directly determines the number of batteries required?
- The drone's maximum altitude ceiling
- Total flight time based on area, speed, and battery endurance (Correct answer)
- The resolution setting of the onboard camera
- The number of ground control points used
Correct answer: Total flight time based on area, speed, and battery endurance
Total flight time, derived from the area to cover and the drone's airspeed and battery endurance, determines how many battery swaps are needed.
Question 5: When planning a nighttime UAS operation under a Part 107 waiver, which equipment requirement becomes mandatory?
- Thermal imaging camera
- Anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles (Correct answer)
- A second remote pilot as co-pilot
- Forward collision avoidance radar
Correct answer: Anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles
14 CFR 107.29 requires UAS operating at night to have anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles.
Question 6: A pilot plans a photogrammetry mission and needs 80% frontal overlap between images. Which flight planning parameter controls this overlap?
- Camera gimbal angle
- Flight path spacing (sidelap)
- Shutter speed setting
- Trigger interval or distance between photos along the flight line (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Trigger interval or distance between photos along the flight line
Frontal overlap is controlled by the distance (or time interval) between successive photo triggers along each flight line.
Question 7: A remote pilot is planning operations in a coastal area with salt air. Which maintenance consideration should be incorporated into the pre-mission checklist?
- Recalibrate IMU every 30 minutes during flight
- Inspect motors and connectors for corrosion caused by salt air exposure (Correct answer)
- Switch to a lower battery discharge rate
- Apply extra rotor blade pitch to compensate for humid air density
Correct answer: Inspect motors and connectors for corrosion caused by salt air exposure
Salt air accelerates corrosion on motor windings, connectors, and frame components, making pre-flight inspection critical in coastal environments.
UAS Mission Planning 3
A remote pilot wants to conduct a real estate photography flight in Class E airspace that extends to the surface.
What authorization process should be used?