The Federal Aviation Administration’s Half 107 take a look at is an important step for anybody aiming to develop into an authorized drone pilot for industrial operations within the U.S. Some questions are fairly straightforward, the place a dose of frequent sense may clear up them. However different questions will not be simply tough except you’ve severely studied — however they’re nearly deliberately difficult. So of these, what are essentially the most missed — or let’s consider hardest Half 107 take a look at questions?
I reached out to my associates at Drone Pilot Floor College, which has been providing on-line Half 107 take a look at prep programs ever since 2016. Their program provides 5, full-length follow assessments that mirror the true examination format. These assessments come from a financial institution of greater than 400 pattern questions from the FAA.
Whenever you full the follow take a look at, Drone Pilot Floor College sends over a efficiency report and breakdown of your incorrect responses. Provided that, they’ve a robust information set of the Half 107 take a look at questions which are missed essentially the most.
They shared these questions with me. And together with that, Drone Pilot Floor College Buyer Success Supervisor Michael McGuirt added is personal perception on why they’re so difficult — and why the right response is the way in which it’s.
Associated learn: Flying drones commercially? How you can get a drone pilot license
Listed here are three of essentially the most generally missed Half 107 take a look at questions, and an explainer of the proper reply:
Inside the toughest Half 107 take a look at questions
1) Which two components can be utilized to compute the cloud base?
A) The temperature and the dew level
B) The temperature and the barometric strain
C) The barometric strain and the dew level
Right reply: A. The temperature and the dew level
Why college students miss this query: “College students they don’t actually perceive that ‘dew level’ is an precise temperature as a substitute of only a climate time period and that it’s used to find out the cloudbase,” McGuirt mentioned.
However understanding the connection between temperature and dew level is vital to figuring out when and the place clouds will kind.
Clarification: “The distinction between the floor temperature and the dew level temperature determines the altitude at which the air cools to its saturation level,” McGuirt mentioned. “This altitude is the place clouds start to kind.”
- A small distinction (3-5º) between temperature and dew level ends in a low cloud base, because the air doesn’t have to rise far to condense.
- A giant distinction results in a greater cloud base, because the air should rise farther earlier than cooling to the dew level.
The peak of the cloud base could be discovered on numerous climate apps equivalent to UAV Forecast (1,900 ft AGL) or it may be calculated utilizing the system beneath.
Cloud Base Components:
(Present Temperature – Dew Level) = Unfold
Divide the Unfold by 4.4 (if °F) or 2.5 (if °C), then multiply by 1,000 to get the cloud base in ft AGL.
Instance: If the temperature is 82ºF and the dew level is 70ºF:
82 – 70 = 12
12 / 4.4 = 2.73
2.73 x 1,000 = 2,727 ft AGL
2) What’s the solely kind of Class E airspace that requires an airspace authorization?
A) Class E Floor Space
B) Class E Extension
C) Class E Transition airspace that begins at 700 ft AGL
Right reply: A. Class E Floor Space.
Why college students miss this query: “There are eight varieties of Class E airspace and college students assume that any class of airspace outdoors of Class G requires an airspace authorization,” McGuirt mentioned. “However the one kind of Class E that requires an airspace authorization is Floor Space Class E.”
Clarification: Class E Transition airspace that begins at 700 ft AGL or 1,200 ft AGL, or Class E Extensions don’t require an airspace authorization.
3) Which of the next is not one of many minimal message parts that should be broadcast by a regular Distant ID unmanned plane in accordance with § 89.305?
A) The geometric altitude of the management station.
B) The battery stage of the unmanned plane.
C) The latitude and longitude of the unmanned plane.
Right reply: B. The battery stage of the unmanned plane.
Why college students miss this query: “This query is usually missed as a result of college students haven’t dedicated to reminiscence all the parts of the Distant ID Broadcast message,” McGuirt mentioned.
Clarification: There are eight parts that it’s important to decide to reminiscence.
- A serial quantity or session ID
- Latitude and longitude of the management station
- Geometric altitude of the management station
- Latitude and longitude of the plane
- Geometric altitude of the plane
- The speed of the plane
- A timestamp in Coordinated Common Time (UTC)
- The emergency standing of the plane
Discover that battery stage is NOT a required factor—a standard false impression amongst test-takers.
Be ready — as a result of take a look at scores aren’t nice
Should you thought these questions have been tough, you’re not alone. For what it’s value, these three are the toughest Half 107 take a look at questions. Nonetheless, many test-takers are lacking extra than simply these three.
Out of the 67,576 individuals who took the Small Unmanned Plane Take a look at in 2024, the common Half 107 take a look at rating was 79.95%. That’s not even a B.
In the meantime, the move price was 84.2%. (Passing the Half 107 take a look at requires a 70% rating.) The truth is, the Half 107 take a look at has among the many worst move charges of any take a look at issued by the FAA. For instance, 91.9% of take a look at takers move the Airplane Personal Pilot’s Take a look at, and 85.64% move the Airplane Instrument Score Take a look at. In accordance with FAA information, the general move price throughout all FAA-issued Airman Data Checks in 2024 was 89.51%. Clearly, drone pilots are bringing the typical down.
How you can keep away from lacking the toughest Half 107 Take a look at questions
These difficult questions illustrate why finding out for the Half 107 take a look at requires greater than only a primary understanding of drones. To spice up your possibilities of success:
✅ Take a Half 107 prep course – On-line programs like Drone Pilot Floor College (which offered the information for this story) and Drone Launch Academy present structured classes, follow assessments and skilled steering. In addition they supply offers. For instance, Drone Pilot Floor College provides an unique low cost for Drone Lady readers to get you $100 off utilizing coupon code DRONEGIRL100.
I personally used Drone Pilot Floor College‘s on-line research course. It labored, as I handed the Half 107 take a look at on my first strive with a 90% rating.
✅ Use follow assessments – Determine weak areas earlier than take a look at day with life like follow questions. Once more, just about any Half 107 on-line course will embody these.
✅ Give attention to difficult subjects – Topics like airspace classifications, climate and Distant ID guidelines are likely to trigger essentially the most hassle.
✅ Carry the proper supplies – You want your mind energy, however there are additionally some bodily objects it’s worthwhile to carry to the Half 107 take a look at. That features a legitimate, government-issued ID.
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