- Aug 15
- 4 min read
A Complete Roadmap to Passing the Remote Pilot Knowledge Test
The FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is your official license to operate drones commercially in the United States. At Uncrewed Aerospace™, we’ve trained countless students to pass this test on their first attempt — and this study guide is your blueprint for success.
Below is a section-by-section breakdown of what you need to know, formatted for real-world studying, with extra Drone Pro tips on what the FAA likes to ask.
Regulations (15–25% of the Exam)
Key Focus Areas:
Eligibility:
16 years or older
Speak, read, write English
Physically and mentally able to operate a drone safely
Pass the FAA Knowledge Test with a minimum 70%
Registration:
All drones > 0.55 lbs. (250g) must be registered
Registration valid for 3 years
Display registration number on the outside of the drone
Operational Limits:
Max altitude: 400 ft AGL
Max speed: 100 mph (87 knots)
Daylight or civil twilight only (with anti-collision lights)
Must yield right-of-way to all manned aircraft
Must maintain Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)
Prohibited Operations:
Flying over people (unless directly participating or under covered structure)
Flying from a moving vehicle unless in a sparsely populated area
Flying in restricted or prohibited airspace without authorization
Drone Pro Tip: The FAA loves to test definitions — know exactly what civil twilight means (30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset, local time).
Airspace & Requirements (15–25% of the Exam)
Know Your Airspace Classes:
Class B: Major airports — require ATC clearance
Class C: Moderate airports — require ATC clearance
Class D: Small airports with control towers — require ATC clearance
Class E: Controlled, typically above 700 or 1,200 ft AGL — no clearance needed if flying (under 400 ft AGL unless near an airport
Class G: Uncontrolled — no clearance required
Airspace Class | Chart Color/Line Style | Start Height Example |
B | Solid Blue | Surface or as charted |
C | Solid Magenta | Surface or as charted |
D | Dashed Blue | Surface |
E (SFC) | Dashed Magenta | Surface |
E (700 ft) | Faded Magenta | 700 ft AGL |
E (1200 ft) | Faded Blue | 1,200 ft AGL |
G | Not shown explicitly | Surface to base of Class E |
Authorization:
LAANC System (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) gives near-instant clearance in controlled airspace.
Manual FAA DroneZone requests take longer.
Sectional Charts:
Learn to read latitude/longitude, airport symbols, and controlled airspace boundaries.
Understand magenta shading (Class E starting at 700 ft AGL) and blue shading (Class E starting at 1,200 ft AGL).
Still struggling with sectionals see our BLOG ON SECTIONALS for more help.
Drone Pro Tip: Expect at least 4–6 questions requiring you to read a sectional chart.
Weather (11–16% of the Exam)
Sources of Weather Information:
METARs: Current conditions
TAFs: Forecasts (usually 24 hours, sometimes 30)
Example METAR: METAR KDFW 121853Z 18012KT 10SM SCT040 30/22 A2992
KDFW = Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
121853Z = 12th day, 18:53 UTC
18012KT = Wind from 180° at 12 knots
10SM = 10 statute miles visibility
SCT040 = scattered clouds at 4,000 ft
30/22 = Temp 30°C, Dew Point 22°C
A2992 = Altimeter 29.92 inHg
Still struggling on METARs- see our BLOG ON DECODING METARs
Weather Hazards:
Density Altitude: High DA = reduced aircraft performance
Thunderstorms: Stay 20 NM away
Fog Types: Radiation, advection, upslope
Drone Pro Tip: The FAA loves “decode this METAR” questions. Practice daily with real-world data.
Loading & Performance (7–11% of the Exam)
Weight & Balance:
Added weight = reduced flight time, increased stall speed
Center of gravity too far forward/back affects control of your aircraft
Performance Factors:
High Density Altitude → Less lift, reduced thrust
Hot, high, humid = worst performance
Operations (35–45% of the Exam)
Crew Roles:
Remote PIC (RPIC): Remote Pilot in Command = Final authority
Person Manipulating Controls: May fly under supervision of RPIC
Visual Observer: Helps maintain VLOS (Visual Line Of Sight)
Preflight Checklist:
Weather & airspace check
Drone inspection
Batteries charged
Registration marking visible
Safety and Operational Crew Brief
Emergency Procedures:
Always create a ELZ = Emergency Landing Zone
Lost Link: Know programmed RTH behavior, adjust according to environment
Flyaway: Maintain VLOS if possible, notify ATC if near controlled airspace
Waivers:
Can request for: night ops (without lighting), flying over people, BVLOS, higher altitudes, etc.
Human Factors
IMSAFE Checklist:
Illness
Medication
Stress
Alcohol (8 hours bottle-to-throttle, BAC < 0.04)
Fatigue
Emotion/Eating
Visual Scanning:
Use a systematic scan to spot airspace traffic early
Uncrewed Aerospace - Test-Taking Strategy
60 questions, 2 hours, 70% to pass (42 Correct Answers)
No penalty for guessing — answer every question
Use process of elimination, think through your options
Flag difficult questions and return later
Expect a mix of “straight facts” and “apply your knowledge” common sense questions
Quick Reference Table
Limit | Value |
Max Altitude | 400 ft AGL |
Max Speed | 100 mph (87 knots) |
Min Visibility | 3 SM |
Min Distance from Clouds | 500 ft below, 2,000 ft horizontally |
Civil Twilight | 30 min before sunrise / after sunset |
Min Age | 16 |
Pass Score | 70% |
Final Tip from The Drone Pro™
Passing the FAA Part 107 is about understanding, not memorizing. We’ve seen the difference: students who connect the rule to the “why” not only pass but also fly safer and more professionally.
When in doubt, safety and compliance come first — and that’s exactly what the FAA is testing for.
Michael Hill is the Founder of Uncrewed Aerospace, an award-winning Drone Technology Company, that helps clients integrate Uncrewed Technology & Ai on the land, in the air, and at sea. Follow our work at www.uncrewedaerospace.com #TheDronePro
