Passing Part 107 Exam

Passing the part 107 might seem like a daunting endeavor, but if you break it down into workable chunks that you need to learn…you can pass with flying colors… without paying for a course. My best advice is to book your test about a month out from TODAY. Do not go into this thinking you’re going to pass, or even take the test to begin with without first booking the test. Everyone is different, but backing yourself into a set time window will ensure you get the test over with quickly, and it will pressure you to study. It is also the quickest way to start earning money with your Part 107!

Here are some of the resources I used to learn everything I could about passing the Part 107 exam.

Free Drone Certification Video

This is an older video that is still very relevant to today’s exam because the test really hasn’t changed in all these years. My advice is to watch this through, take notes whenever they talk about something you need to know for later so you have a quick reference for later.

Here is one to get you started:




FAA Part 107 Drone Certification: Key Points and Study Notes

Introduction

  • Purpose: Certification for commercial drone operations in the U.S.
  • Uses: Real estate photography, wedding photography, YouTube monetization.
  • Resources: Video table of contents, free study guide, practice tests.

Why You Need It

  • Legality: Required for commercial drone use, including monetized YouTube content.

Overview of Taking the Test

  1. Scheduling: Call the testing agency with personal details, schedule a test time.
  2. Test Day: Bring ID, four-function calculator (optional, one can be provided).
  3. Test Details:
    • Duration: Up to 2 hours (typically takes less than an hour).
    • Format: 63-64 multiple-choice questions, 70% passing score.
    • Answers: Three choices per question.

Important Numbers

  • Registration:
    • Minimum weight for registration: 0.55 lbs.
    • Maximum weight: 55 lbs.
    • Minimum age for registration: 13 years old.
  • Operational Limits:
    • Maximum altitude: 400 feet above ground level (AGL).
    • Horizontal distance from clouds: 2,000 feet.
    • Vertical distance from clouds: 500 feet.
    • Maximum speed: 100 mph.
    • Visibility: 3 statute miles (SM).
    • Time restrictions: Flying permitted 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset with anti-collision lights.
    • Blood alcohol limit: 0.04%.
    • Time between drinking and flying: 8 hours.
    • Reportable accidents: $500 damage or more.
    • Report time for accidents: 10 days.

Airspace Classes

  • Class A: Above 18,000 feet.
  • Class B: Surrounds major airports, upside-down wedding cake shape.
  • Class C: Surrounds regional airports, two tiers.
  • Class D: Smaller airports, single-tier.
  • Class E & G: Less restricted, general airspace.

Airspace Rules

  • No-fly zones: Class A, B, C, D without permission.
  • Permissions: Needed from Air Traffic Control (ATC) for restricted airspace.

Radio Frequencies

  • CTAF: Common Traffic Advisory Frequency for pilot self-announce.
  • Multicom: 122.9 or 122.95 for small, non-towered airports.
  • Unicom: Often the same as CTAF.
  • AWOS: Automated Weather Observing System.

Alphabet for Communication

  • Phonetic Alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.

Aircraft Knowledge

  • Stalling: Caused by exceeding the critical angle of attack.
  • Load Factor: Increased during maneuvers like turns.
  • Center of Gravity: Affects the stability and handling of aircraft.

Weather Information

  • METAR Reports: Current weather conditions, wind speed, visibility, cloud cover, temperature.
  • TAF Reports: Terminal Aerodrome Forecast, similar to METAR but for future conditions.
  • Weather Impact: High density altitude decreases performance, stable air leads to poor visibility and steady precipitation.

Team and Crew Management

  • Visual Observer (VO): Assists in maintaining visual line of sight.
  • Remote Pilot in Command (Remote PIC): Responsible for all aspects of flight operation.
  • Crew Resource Management (CRM): Ensures effective team operation through all phases.

Safety and Risk Management

  • Hyperventilation: Recognize and control breathing.
  • Alcohol: Impairs judgment and decision-making, avoid flying if under influence.
  • Fatigue: Recognize signs and avoid flying when fatigued.
  • Scanning Sky: Systematically focus on different segments of the sky to look for other aircraft.

Hazardous Attitudes and Antidotes

  • Macho: Avoid taking unnecessary risks to impress others.
  • Impulsivity: Plan and think before acting.
  • Invulnerability: Recognize that accidents can happen.
  • Resignation: Understand that actions matter and you are in control.
  • Anti-authority: Follow rules and regulations for safety.

Practice Test Tips

  • Cramming: Review key facts before the test and write them down immediately upon starting.
  • Elimination: Use process of elimination for multiple-choice questions.
  • Marked Questions: Review and revisit marked questions.

 

Stingerswarm Airspace – Stingerswarm made a very useful Part 107 series, and in this airspace video he shows a few things that are good to cover in your studies.

Stingerswarm Decision Making – Another video in the series, very useful for common sense decision making. Absolutely worth a watch.

Stingerswarm Weather Briefings – Yet another excellent video on reading weather charts and whatnot. Since Stingy is/was a commercial pilot, he has even better insight into what the FAA is looking for on the exam, and what it is you need to know so you can pass the test.

Stingerswarm Airport Ops –  Wrapping up the Stingy series of FAA Part 107 training, he talks about airport ops and radio communication. Eseential stuff to pass the 107 exam!

What Next?

After you’ve gone through and studied, and watched everything — take a series of practice tests. Free Part 107 Practice Test is what I used. Set the test to what the testing center will give you… take the 60 question test. Then check what you get wrong, take screenshots of the wrong answers, and then go back and relearn WHY you were wrong. This is the most efficient way of passing the exam because you’re filling in the pot holes so you can pass.

I took these practice tests until I was consistently earning 92% and higher. At that point I knew I was ready for the exam.

Last piece of advice… BOOK THE TEST BEFORE YOU START.