FAA Part 107 sUAS Recurrent (ALC-677) study guide
FAA Part 107 sUAS Recurrent (ALC-677) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
ALC-677, Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent – Non-Part 61 Pilots, is a free FAASTeam online training course hosted on FAASafety.gov. It is built for remote pilots who do not hold a Part 61 pilot certificate, or who lack a current flight review under 14 CFR § 61.56, and who need to stay current as a Part 107 remote pilot with an sUAS rating. The FAA Part 107 sUAS Recurrent (ALC-677) study guide has 12 sections and about 3,817 words.
01Regulations, Privileges, and Limitations
Part 107 governs civil small unmanned aircraft (sUA) operations. The remote pilot certificate in a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) rating is what authorizes you to act as remote pilot in command (PIC).
352 words, about 2 min02Airspace Classification, Operating Requirements, and Flight Restrictions
Know Class A through G. Class A begins at 18,000 ft MSL and is irrelevant to sUA.
315 words, about 2 min03Aviation Weather Sources and Effects on sUA Performance
Use aviationweather.gov for METARs (current surface observations), TAFs (terminal forecasts), and area forecasts. A METAR reports wind, visibility, clouds, temperature/dew point, and altimeter.
295 words, about 1 min04Loading of the Small Unmanned Aircraft
Every sUA has a maximum takeoff weight, and Part 107 caps the whole system at less than 55 lb. Loading includes the airframe, battery, payload (camera, gimbal, sensors), and any attached accessories.
332 words, about 2 min05Emergency Procedures
Emergencies in sUA operations are usually battery, link, GPS, or environmental. Before flight, know your lost-link behavior (return-to-home, hover, or land), your battery reserve, and your emergency landing area.
326 words, about 2 min06Crew Resource Management
The remote PIC is responsible for the entire operation. A visual observer (VO) may assist with see-and-avoid but does not relieve the PIC of the duty to see and avoid.
298 words, about 1 min07Radio Communication Procedures
sUA operations in controlled airspace may require communication with ATC, especially when operating under a waiver or in areas where LAANC authorization includes a requirement to contact the facility. Use standard phraseology: identify yourself, your location, your altitude, and your intentions.
295 words, about 1 min08Determining sUA Performance
sUA performance depends on weight, battery state, air density, wind, and aircraft configuration. Key metrics: maximum endurance (time aloft), maximum range (distance), climb rate, and maximum wind resistance.
265 words, about 1 min09Physiological Effects of Drugs and Alcohol
Part 107 prohibits operating an sUA while under the influence of alcohol or any drug that affects the person's faculties in a manner contrary to safety. The FAA's long-standing standard for pilots is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or higher, and the rule is "8 hours from bottle to throttle" - no alcohol within 8 hours of flight.
291 words, about 1 min10Aeronautical Decision-Making and Judgment
ADM is about systematically choosing the safest course. Know the decision-making models: the 3P model (Perceive, Process, Perform), the DECIDE model, and the IMSAFE checklist for fitness (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion).
268 words, about 1 min11Airport Operations
Know the parts of an airport: runways, taxiways, aprons, and the traffic pattern. Runways are numbered by magnetic heading (Runway 27 points roughly west).
268 words, about 1 min12Maintenance and Preflight Inspection Procedures
Before every flight, inspect the airframe, propellers, motors, battery, gimbal, and control station. Check for cracks, loose fasteners, damaged props, and debris.
512 words, about 3 min