FAA Part 107 flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Maximum sUAS ground speed

Under Part 107, a small unmanned aircraft may not exceed 100 mph, or 87 knots, groundspeed at any time during flight.

Part 107 cloud clearance

A remote pilot must remain at least 500 feet below clouds and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds, with at least 3 statute miles flight visibility.

Accident report deadline

A small UAS accident causing serious injury, loss of consciousness, or property damage over $500 must be reported to the FAA within 10 calendar days.

Class G airspace

Uncontrolled airspace where Part 107 operations do not require ATC authorization, though the 400-foot AGL limit and other Part 107 rules still apply.

LAANC

Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability provides near-real-time FAA authorization to operate in controlled airspace grid areas at or below approved altitudes.

Class B airspace authorization

Operations in Class B airspace require an FAA airspace authorization or waiver obtained through LAANC or the FAA DroneZone before flight.

Density altitude effect

High density altitude from high temperature, high elevation, low pressure, or humidity reduces lift and propeller efficiency, increasing takeoff distance and reducing climb performance.

METAR

An aviation routine weather report issued usually hourly that describes observed surface conditions including wind, visibility, clouds, temperature, dew point, and altimeter setting.

TAF

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast, a concise forecast of expected conditions at an airport within five statute miles, typically valid for 24 or 30 hours.

Maximum takeoff weight

The total weight of the small unmanned aircraft, including payload, battery, and attached equipment, must not exceed 55 pounds at takeoff.

Load factor in turns

As bank angle increases, load factor rises, increasing stall speed and the power required to maintain altitude; steep turns reduce available performance margin.

Battery cold-weather effect

Low temperatures reduce a lithium-polymer battery's capacity and increase internal resistance, shortening endurance and reducing available power during flight.

Lost link procedure

A preprogrammed automated response, such as hover, land, or return to home, that the aircraft executes when the command and control link is lost.

Emergency deviation authority

The remote PIC may deviate from Part 107 rules to the extent necessary to respond to an in-flight emergency and must report the deviation if requested by the FAA.

Flyaway response

If the aircraft departs controlled flight and cannot be regained, notify ATC and law enforcement as needed and warn other traffic if able.

Visual observer role

A crew member who maintains visual line of sight, scans for other aircraft and hazards, and communicates with the remote PIC without distracting from control duties.

Sterile cockpit

A crew discipline in which non-essential conversation and activity are avoided during critical phases of flight to preserve attention and communication clarity.

CTAF

Common Traffic Advisory Frequency used at non-towered airports for pilots to announce position and intentions; the frequency is published on charts and airport directories.

Unicom 122.8

A common unicom frequency used at many non-towered airports for advisory traffic information; it is not a control frequency and no clearance is issued.

Bottle-to-throttle rule

A pilot must allow at least 8 hours between consuming alcohol and operating an aircraft, and must never operate with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 percent or higher.

Drug reporting requirement

A remote pilot must report to the FAA within 60 days any conviction for driving while intoxicated or impaired by drugs, or any related administrative action.

IMSAFE

A preflight self-assessment checklist covering Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Emotion to determine whether a pilot is fit to fly.

PAVE checklist

A risk assessment framework that examines the Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, and External pressures before flight to identify and mitigate hazards.

Hazardous attitude: invulnerability

The belief that accidents happen only to others; the antidote is recognizing that anyone can be involved and that personal limitations are real.

DECIDE model

A decision-making process: Detect a change, Estimate its effect, Choose an outcome, Identify actions, Do the action, and Evaluate the result.

Segmented circle

A ground marking at non-towered airports showing traffic pattern direction and runway alignment, often with a wind indicator at its center.

Airport beacon white and green

A rotating beacon flashing white and green identifies a lighted land airport; pilots use it to locate the field at night.

Runway hold short lines

Two solid and two dashed yellow lines marking where an aircraft must stop before entering a runway; the dashed lines are on the runway side.

Preflight inspection items

Check registration and markings, battery charge, propeller and airframe condition, firmware, compass calibration, and control response before every flight.

Airworthiness determination

Under Part 107 the remote PIC must determine the small UAS is in a condition for safe operation before flight; no FAA airworthiness certificate is required.

Night anti-collision lighting

For night operations the sUAS must have anti-collision lights visible for at least 3 statute miles; the remote pilot may reduce them if they impair vision.

Dark adaptation time

The human eye requires about 30 minutes in darkness to reach full night vision; exposure to white light resets adaptation, so red lighting is preferred.