The toughest Half 107 check questions — and how you can get them proper

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Half 107 check is a vital step for anybody aiming to turn out to be an authorized drone pilot for industrial operations within the U.S. Some questions are fairly straightforward, the place a dose of frequent sense might remedy them. However different questions usually are not 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 assume hardest Half 107 check questions?

I reached out to my buddies at Drone Pilot Floor College, which has been providing on-line Half 107 check prep programs ever since 2016. Their program presents 5, full-length follow assessments that mirror the actual examination format. These assessments come from a financial institution of greater than 400 pattern questions from the FAA.

While you full the follow check, Drone Pilot Floor College sends over a efficiency report and breakdown of your incorrect responses. On condition that, they’ve a robust knowledge set of the Half 107 check questions which can be 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 proper response is the way in which it’s.

Associated learn: Flying drones commercially? Tips on how to get a drone pilot license

Listed below are three of essentially the most generally missed Half 107 check questions, and an explainer of the fitting reply:

1) Which two elements 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

Appropriate 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 an alternative of only a climate time period and that it’s used to find out the cloudbase,” McGuirt stated.

However understanding the connection between temperature and dew level is vital to figuring out when and the place clouds will type.

Rationalization: “The distinction between the floor temperature and the dew level temperature determines the altitude at which the air cools to its saturation level,” McGuirt stated. “This altitude is the place clouds start to type.”

• 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 massive 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 may be discovered on numerous climate apps comparable to UAV Forecast (1,900 ft AGL) or it may be calculated utilizing the method beneath.

Cloud Base Method:
(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 sort 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

Appropriate reply: A. Class E Floor Space.

Why college students miss this query: “There are eight sorts of Class E airspace and college students suppose that any class of airspace outdoors of Class G requires an airspace authorization,” McGuirt stated. “However the one sort of Class E that requires an airspace authorization is Floor Space Class E.”

Rationalization: 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 normal Distant ID unmanned plane in line 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.

Appropriate reply: B. The battery stage of the unmanned plane.

Why college students miss this query: “This query is commonly missed as a result of college students haven’t dedicated to reminiscence all the parts of the Distant ID Broadcast message,” McGuirt stated.

Rationalization: There are eight parts that it’s a must to decide to reminiscence.

1. A serial quantity or session ID
2. Latitude and longitude of the management station
3. Geometric altitude of the management station
4. Latitude and longitude of the plane
5. Geometric altitude of the plane
6. The speed of the plane
7. A timestamp in Coordinated Common Time (UTC)
8. The emergency standing of the plane

Discover that battery stage is NOT a required aspect—a standard false impression amongst test-takers.

Be ready — as a result of check scores aren’t nice

In case you thought these questions had been tough, you’re not alone. For what it’s value, these three are the toughest Half 107 check 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 check rating was 79.95%. That’s not even a B.

In the meantime, the move charge was 84.2%. (Passing the Half 107 check requires a 70% rating.) In actual fact, the Half 107 check has among the many worst move charges of any check issued by the FAA. For instance, 91.9% of check takers move the Airplane Personal Pilot’s Take a look at, and 85.64% move the Airplane Instrument Score Take a look at. In keeping with FAA knowledge, the general move charge throughout all FAA-issued Airman Data Assessments in 2024 was 89.51%. Clearly, drone pilots are bringing the typical down.

Tips on how to keep away from lacking the toughest Half 107 Take a look at questions

These difficult questions illustrate why finding out for the Half 107 check requires greater than only a fundamental 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 supplied the info for this story) and Drone Launch Academy present structured classes, follow assessments and knowledgeable steering. Additionally they provide offers. For instance, Drone Pilot Floor College presents 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 examine course. It labored, as I handed the Half 107 check on my first attempt with a 90% rating.

✅ Use follow assessments – Determine weak areas earlier than check day with reasonable follow questions. Once more, just about any Half 107 on-line course will embrace these.

✅ Concentrate on difficult matters – Topics like airspace classifications, climate and Distant ID guidelines are inclined to trigger essentially the most hassle.

✅ Carry the fitting supplies – You want your mind energy, however there are additionally some bodily objects you have to convey to the Half 107 check. That features a legitimate, government-issued ID.

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