Thank you for this very helpful study guide. At 12:21, the answer for class g for drone pilots would never be 1sm. It is required to always be 3sm for drone operators. The airport may be 1sm for manned aircrafts but never for drone operators. The answer is always 3sm for drone operators. It’s a trick question.
Watched the Tony Northup video (which is excellent) and this one (also excellent), read the FAA study guide just a little and just passed with a 90% in 45 minutes. This video really helped me fill in some gaps from Tony's video. Thanks!
Thank you so much Bill. Passed today with an 80%. It is Jan2019, not sure if things have changed but the exam is heavy on sectional charts. Study hard and you will pass.
Passed my FAA 107 in Homestead FL today. First try got a 93. Appreciate you recommending Alan at Drone Pilot Ground School. That was a huge help. Also, I found your videos to be spot on and very helpful as well. Thanks
This video helped me pass the FAA Part 107 sUAS Drone Certification test - especially the info regarding how to read the charts. It wasn't the only test prep I did, but it definitely helped. I passed on the first try! Thanks, Bill!
Super useful tips even 4 years later. Just passed my Part 107 today!!! What Bill says is true, you WILL benefit from some additional study resources, however his last minute tips and tricks, is all it took for me to gain the refresher and slam the test with confidence. 85% first go. Not too shabby. Thank you sir!
Thanks for this offering, Bill. I used lots of collected test preps, including this vid, 3D Robotics sample test questions, and signed up for Remote Pilot 101. I passed my test a few weeks ago, and now hold a temporary FAA certificate. I'm hoping that you continue to offer videos on next steps for those of us who are now professional remote pilots!
I think this is an excellent video. I took my Part 107 test a month ago and can tell you that there can be some quirky questions. You must read the FAA study guide. Bill said, there are questions where one answer seems as good as the next... and they are... except the FAA is looking for terms and are SPECIFIC to their study guide. They love the question about "macho" and that shows up on all the study guides as well as my real test. DO NOT IGNORE TAF readings in addition to METAR. I got peppered with SIX TAF questions and no METAR. Also fixed wing stuff. I was also hit with about 6 questions ranging from angle of attack to loading, to landing patterns. And don't forget comms. There will be at least one question asking which frequency you need to use based on a provided sectional chart. And yeah... spend some time studying and learning sectional charts. They can approach the sectional questions all sorts of ways. Good luck.
I passed my 107 test after reading thru the materials and a few of your videos. Thanks for the info. I passed with a 77%. Not the best. I found way more questions on the sectional charts than I was expecting. It seemed like have my test was sectional charts. It beat me up, but I beat it at the end of the day
@@BillNicholsTV I’m not 100% sure. I’m finishing up my 500 YTT and just recently finished up my Divemaster. I want to work with people needing adaptive help with movement and scuba. I thought the drone footage would be an awesome advertising medium creating solution. Maybe also able to document the growth thru my plan
Bill, I appreciate the tips provided, especially how to read METAR's. All of this wealth of knowledge helped me to pass my test this afternoon. Much appreciated!
Mr. Nichols, The Visibility/Cloud Clearance requirements are not based on airport elevation but on Mean Sea Level (MSL) altitude. So if I am Flying under 10K feet MSL above the airport in Class D airspace my visibility requirements are 3 SM and standard cloud clearances of 500 below/1000 above and 1000 horizontally. Above 10K MSL visibility requirements increase to 5 SM and Cloud Clearance requirements increase to 1000 above/1000 below and 1 SM horizontally. Flying in an aircraft this makes sense for safety but I can't imagine flying a small drone above 10K. Great video!
If anyone is thinking that reading the study guide of Part 107 is boring IT’S SURPISINGLY NOT!It is very informational and every single think that you read is worth it.Make sure to take notes on each page.
I took the exam a couple days ago and passed with a 95. The exam took me half an hour. It's far easier than many of these youtube channels are leading you to believe.
one tip is to know the difference and conversions between AGL, MSL, Celsius to Fahrenheit, and SM to NM. and to make sure the answer you're chorusing is the right measurement unit! This video is a massive help, thank you so much good sir! Taking my Part 107 November and PPL written shortly after :)
Thanks for producing this video Bill. Like you've said, the test is "no joke" and many people fail. Guaranteed if you do not study, "something", you will not pass. I passed today with 88%. Not the high score I was hoping for, but passed all the same. Your video was invaluable with regards to how you present a few concepts that did show up on my test, I'm so glad I found your video :) I had no questions about Latitude or Longitude on my exam, (surprised). The computer exam itself is Primitive and the magazine sized book that you have to look through is crap as well. I did not pay to to take an online course, but had I had the money to spend, I think it's a great idea because trying to read that FAA study guide is painful, poorly written and way too long winded. I used your video, the Tony Northrup video, Blue Ridge Drone video, Magnum video, Remote Pilot Phone App and read a few sections of the FAA study guide. The questions that got me where: Icing on wings, formation of ice on wings, I missed an elevation question because the chart was Crude, A radio question, someone about monitoring live transmissions from pilots and a who the UAS Part 107 applies to Civil or Civil + Public...Watch our for trick, misleading questions.
I agree, Alan's course for me, has been a great experience! So is this video! I will be taking my test this week and I feel really well prepped at his point. Thank you!
Congrats!. Didn't go your route. I just watched TH-cam videos on weather, sectional and used as study guide app. Low cost and passed. But what ever works is what matters. Great video for those interested !
Congrats Bill! It's surprising how little sense you can make of all the charts and advisories until you really start using them. I found that using a sectional was very hard until I did some navigating for a friend of mine when flying cross country. All at once, it was pretty clear what all those colors and numbers meant.
Bill. Thank you for your video. It definitely helped along with all the other prep materials and tests that are out there. I passed yesterday, missing only 3 questions. When the test was over, the administrator was able to bring up the exact 3 questions I missed. Sure enough they were the 3 that I couldn't seem to decide an answer on. It took me a half hour to answer all the questions on the test and then I spent another half hour going over all my answers and rereading the question so I didn't make a stupid mistake.
Thanks for all the helpful information. This is a study month for me and I find your info most useful. I'm planning taking the test next month. Thanks again!
Seriously Bill, I've watched 50+ of these videos...and by FAR...yours are the absolute best and easiest to understand. Your style of communication is spot on for me. If you're not currently an instructor for any of the popular drone schools -- you should highly consider going in that direction :)
For some people that's great - for others and they way they learn having a consolidated, complete curriculum is important. For me I wanted a single place to study, mark off objectives and maximize my time. Was worth every bit of the investment.
Ty Brady exactly. With the prices of these drone schools you could fail and retake the test and still come out cheaper; assuming you would fail in the first place.
You could - it comes down to how you learn and the value of your time. If I fail I know I am spending 2+ hours just going back down to take the test, that 2-3 hours alone is worth it to me. For the studying, having it all consolidated, in one place, with a proven curriculum probably saved me between 6-10 hours of studying. So forget the failing part, 6-10 hours back is worth way more to me than $249. That is valuing my time between 25-40 / hour, that is very cheap for me. For some it doesn't work out dollar wise, for others it's a huge bargain.
Perhaps it comes down how much extra money one has or how frugal one is. I could see spending $250 if it was a hard exam and there was little free information. I watched free TH-cam videos, studied lots of other free places and recently got a 92. If you put the time in to study all the different subjects and you understand it, it would be very hard to fail.
Hard is subjective. Vector Charts came very easy to me, some people have a massively hard time. It comes to how you value your time and how you learn. Saving 3 hours to me is worth more $250 - I likely saved 5-10 hours so the value was extreme. That will not be the same to everyone. For some if it took them 10-20 hours of looking at different resources, etc, that would justify saving $250, and that't great.
Thank you for your video. As a point of clarification, at 18:59 on your video you say that you have unlimited access to the materials so you can brush up for required tests every two years. Drone Pilot Ground School allows unlimited access for five years from date of enrollment. It's the five year limitation that caused us to look for another ground school that offers unlimited access without time limitations. Otherwise we would have chosen their course.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the airspace visibility requirements are according to the altitude of flight not the airport altitude. Hence only class E and class G had requirements for visibility at/above 10,000ft as they are the only two classes of airspace that go that high (excluding Class A). Not sure that it is that applicable to UAS pilot's, however I'm pretty sure this is what I remember from taking my private pilot knowledge test (It's been quite a while since I took that, and since I have flown). Anyway, thanks for the informative video!
Really appreciate this video, would definitely appreciate more of your thoughts on 107 and any waivers you might be applying for. Congrats on your test!
Hi Ike - As of right now I don't have any waivers I will need to apply for, but in the next six months I have a couple waivers I will need for airspace clearance and that will be interesting as none have been approved as of yet.
Thought I would let you know - based on your feedback to me, I am now working to try and have every video (starting this week forward) have manually created CC for hearing impaired. I had automatic on but I thought it was important to be accurate. Cheers Mic!
thanks for the tips, taking my test tomorrow! also, i noticed the quality of the video with proper lighting - looks great! then i saw what camera you used...dang, that's a $4k camera! i need a lot of drone work to pay for something like that...ha.
I think I have now reviewed all of your TH-cam tutorials. Congratulations on passing the Rule 107 exam. (Passed the 107 two weeks ago so I watched only first of that one. I also used Drone Pilot Ground School) You mentioned upcoming tutorials with Light Room. I have great interest in those tutorials. When will you begin posting?
+Lloyd Waldron hi Lloyd, congrats on passing. There is a current playlist on my channel with about 15 videos on Lightroom, I post Lightroom videos pretty regularly
Congrats and thanks for the video Bill... I'm in Canada and at the moment there is no official testing and certification for UAV pilots. However, Transport Canada says it's not far off... possibly in 2017.
Keith Carbine hey Keith, yes there is class E airspace there but where you would be flying (AGL below 400') it is class G in that location. The class E there is a non-surface class E starting at 700'. If it were a dashed magenta then it would be a class e from the surface. Unless I am not seeing the dashed surface class E marker. Thanks for watching! Really appreciate the feedback!
The way you are showing is they are approching runway 31 not 13, is it not the end of the runway you are approaching the number and not the one number on the opposite side????
Great Video... The only error I heard was in regards to alcohol consumption and the time it takes to go through your body. The general rule is "8 Hours from Bottle to Throttle" but a large number of airlines are moving to "12 hours" which I believe is a bit ridiculous. Especially when a larger majority of humans these days are prescribed something that impairs them in some way. Ha Alan's course at Drone Pilot Ground School is well worth the cost especially when it's a Lifetime Membership!
All the info you need you can find in the Aeronautical information Manual (AIM) of the FARAIM book. The book is about $15 the “Airspace” info will be in chapter 3. The Wx/Metar info will be in Chapter 7.
Wicked3s Ad once you take your test & pass, you'll need to go home & log into the IACRA website. Enter the information given to you at the testing facility and viola! you're done. wait 24-48 hours (it's usually closer to 48) wknds don't count, and you'll get a notification to print out your temporary certificate. Print it out and keep it on you at all times while flying. Within 4-6 weeks you'll receive your official certificate in the mail. I got mine just under 4 weeks, but I took my test 2nd week in Sept. There are a lot more people testing these days so expect to receive yours closer to the 6 week mark. Another thing you'll need to do (& a lot of people forget this) you'll need to re-register your quad with the FAA as a commercial operator....that is, only if you originally registered your quad as a hobbyist. It's only 5 bucks, but it's important that you do this as you can't fly a quad commercially if it's registered as a hobbyist quad. (& visa versa) Good luck!
I have several videos on that, or you can google FAA Part 107 - here is link to the sample test on the FAA site - www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/test_questions/media/uag_sample_exam.pdf cheers
Good job bro! Heck my prankster sister flies around St. Paul, MN without a license and nose diving houses and stalking me and others. She acts like it's a party or something. Does the FAA even exist?? Lol
Bill, first off I don't subscribe much to youtube stuff, but I consider your channel a must. I love all of your videos. All are well thought out and well done.. First off thanks for that. Can you re-send that discount code please? I have started studying for the 107 and feel fairly lost on the FAA site material.. I'm considering using DPGS. I just don't feel like I'm retaining things just reading the FAA stuff.. Thanks and I really appreciate your work.. Props..
Bill, you said you had a great time taking the test... I HATED it the first time I took it! I studied for months, took the test and passed with a 70, yup, just passed, but I got my Part 107 certification. Did I really not know 30% of the answers? No, I knew most of it, but the questions are purposely worded in a weird way to trip up the test taker. The nuns gave us easier tests in grade school, really (Sorry Sister Humillia). My advice is, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY until you're sick of it but know it backwards and forwards. Then, when you take the test READ EACH QUESTION VERY, VERY CAREFULLY!!!!! The way I look at this Part 107 thing is, 90% of the stuff we're required to memorize, we will NEVER use as drone pilots. Look outside and look at your local weather forecast. Is it a nice day, sunny to mostly sunny with light wind? Then go fly. If it's overcast and/or raining, don't fly. That simple. Don't fly around airports, period. Honestly, in six years of flying drones, I have only been asked to fly near a class C airport twice and I've never been asked to fly near a B, and I got FAA and ATC permission to fly the Class D. Getting DJI to unlock my drone was a much bigger deal! But, memorize the info well enough to take the test and pass it, then don't worry about for two years. Thanks for the tips Bill. Good luck to all you future test takers.
Really important to note that your runway drawing is correct, but you're referring to 13 and 31 backwards. Left downwind of 13 would be west of the runway.
Thanks Bill! I know this video is 4 years old but still lots of valuable information. Especially your explanation of the colors and the dashed lines corresponding to airspaces and the METAR. Tony Northrup gives a good METAR video as well, just to mention :-) Also, where are the links to practice tests you mentioned? So just need to go to Drone school? :-) Thanks again!
The colors and dashed lines are in the book they give you at the test. A lot of people don't realize that the legend gives most of the symbols on that chart as well. My Drone Instructor calls it the Book of Answers. I ordered one on Amazon so I'd be familiar with it.
Thanks for your video, great info and refresher. However, I think you may have mischaracterized the elevation of Class E airspace at Jamestown (JMS) at 10:41 in the video. You mentioned that JMS is a Class E "surface" floor airspace. Based on my reading I believe that JMS is Class E airspace above 700' AGL airspace due to the inclusion of the broad magenta faded line outside of, and enclosing, the dashed magenta line. According to my FAA sectional chart legend, a broad magenta faded line indicates "Class E airspace with floor 700 ft above surface". I do believe that pertains to the area inside of the dashed magenta line, too.
It doesn't pertain to the area inside the dashed magenta (or there wouldn't be dashed magenta there) you can look at this just like any other airspace with there are indication of floor and ceiling in outer shelfs. That whole shaded area is Class E at 700' and above the interior is surface class E where indicated by the dashed magenta. The Magenta scuzz area doesn't change that.
Hey, Bill, thank you for the explanation and further detail. Sort of confusing, and I came to the same conclusion as you describe late yesterday evening. Much appreciated and great video!
That;s not correct - Class A airspace starts at 18,000 feet and extends to 60,000 feet over all land and including the first 12NM over water. That space under the shelf is class G. Class A does not begin until FL180. They include the first 12NM over water because that is the typical boundary unless extended where you leave a country's sovereign territory.
Nice Video, Broham! Nice score, as well. I hope to score that high, maybe ill get that 100% you wanted. Did they at least give you a deal for shouting out their school? I hope so, if not tell them I said you deserve some money or at least a freebee or some swag.
Thanks Bill. BTW, while your Cornell reference to Ultralights was interesting, for UAVs Part 107 is less complex and always a 3SM weather visibility from control station. www.faa.gov/uas/media/Part_107_Summary.pdf Also, at 18:36 the area under Norfork's outer Class C 40(00)/20(00) shelf isn't Glass G in this specific case. Notice to the right we see the fuzzy/vignette magenta line, meaning we are within Class E airspace and fuzzy magenta has a 700 foot floor (still a non-issue for the 400 foot UAV ceiling... unless we are working above a 200 foot structure, etc).
BTW at 19:48, per the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 91.17 no person may operate or attempt to operate an aircraft within 8 hours of having consumed alcohol.
Hello Bill , thank you for the help and good job only missing 6 .. May seem like a silly question but I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around it.. understanding the Airspace at 10 :45 in your video - I dont see a dashed magenta line I see a house blue dashed line that is making me think that the outer ring is class D airspace.. then I see faded magenta circle-- I am so confused -- Im trying to make this make sence.. im screwed..lol
Music_360 when he says dashed magenta, he means the rectangle (and semi circle top and bottom,dashed magenta) lined area. thats the airport area. the big blue not dashed, but serrated oval is a vor radar approach.
Got it thanks!Passed 107 last week - Omg it was hard I read every question twice... Heads up if someone want to add this question.. for future vids.. .... the first question I was asked ask was .. !. What is the Rudder used for on an Airplane! No shit! 1. Yaw 2. Pitch Roll 3. Elevation maybe not a hard question but it can throw you off..
BillNicholsTV , great course. I was going to give myself all of February to study, but I went through the course and got 90% - 95% on the practice tests as well as some other practice tests I found. So I'm going to take the real test on Friday. I'm pumped!
Hi, sorry i love your trick for remembering airspace classes & their colors. However, I think you have a slight error there. Isn't class "E" airspace "Faded" Magenta not "dashed" as you say? Isn't "dashed" Magenta class "G" airspace, or am I missing something? Please let me know. Thanks.
Thanks! To clarify there are a few different indicators for Class E: Dashed from surface to 700AGL Faded from 700-1200 Faded blue from 1200 above I am doing this from memory I haven't looked at them from years. Glad you found it helpful!
Bill, You said you can't wait till the FAA posts your name on their site, and then you can complete the rest of the Part 107 parts. What else has to be done after passing? I missed something big, I guess! Thanks. Your vid was informative! Robert
Congrats, Bill! I am studying for my test and plan on taking it in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the information, I find it very helpful. Do you have some links to sample tests, outside of Drone Pilot School?
Congrats! I do have two questions: What are the additional applications you will have to apply for and complete? Also, had a hard time following the runway 1 3 and the mid left field description. Anyway to break down the basic directions and additional info on downwinds and crosswind leg.
Thank yo so much, this video and Northup's video helped me pass the test. As soon as the sectional chart questions started i was thinking "blue, magenta, blue magenta, solid solid, dot, dot 😂. Thanks again.
hey Bill, I really love your pieces here on UT. You have an excellent presentation and thoughtful, well organized flow of excellent info that's very well delivered and tremendous help. I actually just yesterday took my Remote Pilot's test and passed it 10/17/18 (I'm outside of Philly, PA), a few of those questions were directly from this video and helped me get the passing grade. I'm now looking at next steps. I need much more practical field work and direction for the flight work. I'm flying a DJI P4P and have seen a few of your videos for Point of Interest and Course Lock, really nice and extremely helpful. Do you recommend taking further course instruction for say real estate work, or just get out and practice these 2 programs for a starting point? How much extra course instruction do you recommend? Let me know and many thanks for all you're doing to keep the sUSA's out there flying!! Jay Wiley
Awesome video. Very helpful. I m partial color blind. I can't differentiate magenta and blue, etc. is there other options I can learn to read air space maps?
Same with me - having a hard time seeing Magenta on the sectional charts due to partial color blindness to certain shades of red and green together.. they look grey and then adding to that, the stacking of E and G air spaces is really confusing
From one Bill to another, thank you. Where did you get the material to study from? I'be scoured the FAA site and it is crazy! Any help you would be willng to share with me would be appreciated. Thanks for being a pioneer on this. -Bill Ball
Good video. I see no reason anyone should have to know this to fly a simple drone just to make money but if you are flying for fun you don't have to do any of this.
When you are dealing with airspace it's not really a "simple drone" in my opinion. I think the regulations the FAA (and I am not some advocate for the FAA) has put forward are pretty fair. They are a bit behind the curve but all this popped up so quick, they are really doing a lot to work with the pro community.
eknight003 I understand that. Just not why it only applies if you want to make money. Some of this stuff I already know since I did retire from the USAF. If it's a safety issue then everyone who flies should have to certify.
Around 12:30, that isn't the relevant law. That is part 103, which only applies to ultralights. Under part 107, the relevant reg would be 14 cfr 107.51(c), which always requires 3sm visibility, even if you are in class G airspace (the reg you referenced only requires 1sm). In the example you gave, 107.41 would also apply, as you are operating in surface E airspace surrounding an airport. Airports don't have set visibility requirements, it all depends on the rules you are flying under. The main ones are part 91, part 103, part 107, part 121, part 125, and part 135. It gets even more complicated, because, for instance, part 91 has both instrument flight and visual flight rules. Under visual flight rules you need 3sm around most airports* but under instrument flight rules you only need to be able to see the runway by decision altitude (typically a few hundred feet), and you can takeoff in zero visibility (though it isn't advised). That's getting way to in depth into it, but the point is the question should specify, or at least imply, what rules the flight is being conducted under. If it doesn't say it's probably safe to assume the flight is being conducted under part 107, in which case the answer is always 3sm of visibility. I'm happy to answer any questions about this, thanks for the informative video :) *unless you're flying special VFR, in which case minimum is 1 mile
The part which I am still fuzzy on is entering controlled airspace and need to contact the tower for permission. As a drone pilot, do you need to call on a phone and seek clearance for instance within 5 mile radius of D airspace?
no - not within 5 miles, because at 5 miles it is likely that the shelf is above 400', if you are not a certified remote pilot then you cannot fly within 5 miles. The FAA has an exception process and up until last month you could call a tower and get a waiver, now you have to go through their process and give about 90 days. I have not yet seen any waivers granted for airspace exception.
Thank you for this very helpful study guide. At 12:21, the answer for class g for drone pilots would never be 1sm. It is required to always be 3sm for drone operators. The airport may be 1sm for manned aircrafts but never for drone operators. The answer is always 3sm for drone operators. It’s a trick question.
Watched the Tony Northup video (which is excellent) and this one (also excellent), read the FAA study guide just a little and just passed with a 90% in 45 minutes. This video really helped me fill in some gaps from Tony's video. Thanks!
Glad to hear!
wow congrats!!
Taking my test in 3 weeks.
what was your aeronautical knowledge like prior?
@@albertchang1612 very little
Thank you so much Bill. Passed today with an 80%.
It is Jan2019, not sure if things have changed but the exam is heavy on sectional charts. Study hard and you will pass.
Passed my FAA 107 in Homestead FL today. First try got a 93. Appreciate you recommending Alan at Drone Pilot Ground School. That was a huge help. Also, I found your videos to be spot on and very helpful as well. Thanks
Congrats Rick!
Your videos were extremely helpful for understanding the main concepts. I just took my test today and got a 92% partly thanks to you!
That's rad! Congrats!
ahh my test is in 2 days and i just learned about the airport visibility thanks!
i hope i get a similiar result.
This video helped me pass the FAA Part 107 sUAS Drone Certification test - especially the info regarding how to read the charts. It wasn't the only test prep I did, but it definitely helped. I passed on the first try! Thanks, Bill!
Super useful tips even 4 years later. Just passed my Part 107 today!!! What Bill says is true, you WILL benefit from some additional study resources, however his last minute tips and tricks, is all it took for me to gain the refresher and slam the test with confidence. 85% first go. Not too shabby. Thank you sir!
Congrats! For me it's just a time / value question
Thanks for this offering, Bill. I used lots of collected test preps, including this vid, 3D Robotics sample test questions, and signed up for Remote Pilot 101. I passed my test a few weeks ago, and now hold a temporary FAA certificate.
I'm hoping that you continue to offer videos on next steps for those of us who are now professional remote pilots!
Congrats Dave! Yes, lots to come!
I think this is an excellent video. I took my Part 107 test a month ago and can tell you that there can be some quirky questions. You must read the FAA study guide. Bill said, there are questions where one answer seems as good as the next... and they are... except the FAA is looking for terms and are SPECIFIC to their study guide. They love the question about "macho" and that shows up on all the study guides as well as my real test. DO NOT IGNORE TAF readings in addition to METAR. I got peppered with SIX TAF questions and no METAR. Also fixed wing stuff. I was also hit with about 6 questions ranging from angle of attack to loading, to landing patterns. And don't forget comms. There will be at least one question asking which frequency you need to use based on a provided sectional chart. And yeah... spend some time studying and learning sectional charts. They can approach the sectional questions all sorts of ways. Good luck.
totally agree
I passed my 107 test after reading thru the materials and a few of your videos. Thanks for the info. I passed with a 77%. Not the best. I found way more questions on the sectional charts than I was expecting. It seemed like have my test was sectional charts. It beat me up, but I beat it at the end of the day
Congratulations! That’s huge and I live hearing this! What’s next now that you obtained it?
@@BillNicholsTV I’m not 100% sure. I’m finishing up my 500 YTT and just recently finished up my Divemaster. I want to work with people needing adaptive help with movement and scuba. I thought the drone footage would be an awesome advertising medium creating solution. Maybe also able to document the growth thru my plan
i just learned a lot about this airport visibility thanks to you. It wasn't anywhere.
awesome!
Bill, I appreciate the tips provided, especially how to read METAR's.
All of this wealth of knowledge helped me to pass my test this afternoon.
Much appreciated!
Mr. Nichols, The Visibility/Cloud Clearance requirements are not based on airport elevation but on Mean Sea Level (MSL) altitude. So if I am Flying under 10K feet MSL above the airport in Class D airspace my visibility requirements are 3 SM and standard cloud clearances of 500 below/1000 above and 1000 horizontally. Above 10K MSL visibility requirements increase to 5 SM and Cloud Clearance requirements increase to 1000 above/1000 below and 1 SM horizontally. Flying in an aircraft this makes sense for safety but I can't imagine flying a small drone above 10K. Great video!
If anyone is thinking that reading the study guide of Part 107 is boring IT’S SURPISINGLY NOT!It is very informational and every single think that you read is worth it.Make sure to take notes on each page.
I took the exam a couple days ago and passed with a 95. The exam took me half an hour. It's far easier than many of these youtube channels are leading you to believe.
Nice!
Is the FAA Guideline booklet all you need to study?
Good to know. I've been expecting to fail. Everyone trying to sell you something! I test in a week
one tip is to know the difference and conversions between AGL, MSL, Celsius to Fahrenheit, and SM to NM. and to make sure the answer you're chorusing is the right measurement unit! This video is a massive help, thank you so much good sir!
Taking my Part 107 November and PPL written shortly after :)
Thanks for producing this video Bill. Like you've said, the test is "no joke" and many people fail. Guaranteed if you do not study, "something", you will not pass. I passed today with 88%. Not the high score I was hoping for, but passed all the same. Your video was invaluable with regards to how you present a few concepts that did show up on my test, I'm so glad I found your video :) I had no questions about Latitude or Longitude on my exam, (surprised). The computer exam itself is Primitive and the magazine sized book that you have to look through is crap as well. I did not pay to to take an online course, but had I had the money to spend, I think it's a great idea because trying to read that FAA study guide is painful, poorly written and way too long winded. I used your video, the Tony Northrup video, Blue Ridge Drone video, Magnum video, Remote Pilot Phone App and read a few sections of the FAA study guide. The questions that got me where: Icing on wings, formation of ice on wings, I missed an elevation question because the chart was Crude, A radio question, someone about monitoring live transmissions from pilots and a who the UAS Part 107 applies to Civil or Civil + Public...Watch our for trick, misleading questions.
Just to let people know. Part 107 applies to Civil only.
I agree, Alan's course for me, has been a great experience! So is this video! I will be taking my test this week and I feel really well prepped at his point. Thank you!
Congrats!. Didn't go your route. I just watched TH-cam videos on weather, sectional and used as study guide app. Low cost and passed. But what ever works is what matters. Great video for those interested !
Thanks for the info! Sectional charts and weather is my kryptonite.
Boom!
Congrats Bill! It's surprising how little sense you can make of all the charts and advisories until you really start using them. I found that using a sectional was very hard until I did some navigating for a friend of mine when flying cross country. All at once, it was pretty clear what all those colors and numbers meant.
It does all come together pretty quick if you have it explained well and take the time to really grasp. Thanks for watching!
Congratulations Bill. Thanks for the great info. I'm studying for my part 107 currently. Great insight!
Glad it was helpful!
Bill. Thank you for your video. It definitely helped along with all the other prep materials and tests that are out there. I passed yesterday, missing only 3 questions. When the test was over, the administrator was able to bring up the exact 3 questions I missed. Sure enough they were the 3 that I couldn't seem to decide an answer on. It took me a half hour to answer all the questions on the test and then I spent another half hour going over all my answers and rereading the question so I didn't make a stupid mistake.
The subscription is very helpful. It made the difference for me. Hate to say it, but it did.
The blue / magenta marker demo was awesome. That really stuck in my head!
That's great Ed! Was trying to find a way to make it stick
Thanks for all the helpful information. This is a study month for me and I find your info most useful. I'm planning taking the test next month.
Thanks again!
Great job, Bill....Thank you for taking the time to help all of us!
Thank you for posting this. I'm studying for the Part 107 exam. Nice Panerai!
Best of luck!and good eye!
@@BillNicholsTV Thank you!
Seriously Bill, I've watched 50+ of these videos...and by FAR...yours are the absolute best and easiest to understand. Your style of communication is spot on for me. If you're not currently an instructor for any of the popular drone schools -- you should highly consider going in that direction :)
Thanks Justin! Glad it was helpful
Plenty of free information out there, no need to pay lots of money for the drone school mentioned here.
For some people that's great - for others and they way they learn having a consolidated, complete curriculum is important. For me I wanted a single place to study, mark off objectives and maximize my time. Was worth every bit of the investment.
Ty Brady exactly. With the prices of these drone schools you could fail and retake the test and still come out cheaper; assuming you would fail in the first place.
You could - it comes down to how you learn and the value of your time. If I fail I know I am spending 2+ hours just going back down to take the test, that 2-3 hours alone is worth it to me. For the studying, having it all consolidated, in one place, with a proven curriculum probably saved me between 6-10 hours of studying. So forget the failing part, 6-10 hours back is worth way more to me than $249. That is valuing my time between 25-40 / hour, that is very cheap for me.
For some it doesn't work out dollar wise, for others it's a huge bargain.
Perhaps it comes down how much extra money one has or how frugal one is. I could see spending $250 if it was a hard exam and there was little free information. I watched free TH-cam videos, studied lots of other free places and recently got a 92. If you put the time in to study all the different subjects and you understand it, it would be very hard to fail.
Hard is subjective. Vector Charts came very easy to me, some people have a massively hard time. It comes to how you value your time and how you learn. Saving 3 hours to me is worth more $250 - I likely saved 5-10 hours so the value was extreme. That will not be the same to everyone. For some if it took them 10-20 hours of looking at different resources, etc, that would justify saving $250, and that't great.
Congratulations Bill. Well done.
Thanks Dennis!
Thanks for the video! taking my test tomorrow
How did you do?!
Thanks for these videos. I am just starting out and these are very useful
Glad to hear Glen!
Congrats, Bill! Nice video.
Congratulations. Great information. I am glad you shared.
Thanks Gene
Thank you for your video. As a point of clarification, at 18:59 on your video you say that you have unlimited access to the materials so you can brush up for required tests every two years. Drone Pilot Ground School allows unlimited access for five years from date of enrollment. It's the five year limitation that caused us to look for another ground school that offers unlimited access without time limitations. Otherwise we would have chosen their course.
Great point David - I'll bring this up to Alan
David Thomas 😊 thank you. I’m still researching the best course of action to prep for taking this FAA Part 107 test.
man you kill it with that video, thank you so much..
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the airspace visibility requirements are according to the altitude of flight not the airport altitude. Hence only class E and class G had requirements for visibility at/above 10,000ft as they are the only two classes of airspace that go that high (excluding Class A). Not sure that it is that applicable to UAS pilot's, however I'm pretty sure this is what I remember from taking my private pilot knowledge test (It's been quite a while since I took that, and since I have flown). Anyway, thanks for the informative video!
Really appreciate this video, would definitely appreciate more of your thoughts on 107 and any waivers you might be applying for. Congrats on your test!
Hi Ike - As of right now I don't have any waivers I will need to apply for, but in the next six months I have a couple waivers I will need for airspace clearance and that will be interesting as none have been approved as of yet.
Wow this is some serious stuff bud. Good god. I got my hands full. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. AWSOME video.👍🏼😊❤
Right on, glad it was helpful!
Tony Northrup video is all you need. This video is helpful, but no need to spend money on expensive training for a test this simple.
Outstanding video and explanation. I appreciate the work you put into these videos.
Thank you for subtitles!!
Hey MicBergsma - hope the video was helpful, glad to see you here, been a fan of yours for a long time
Yes it is, Thank you! Small world :)
Thought I would let you know - based on your feedback to me, I am now working to try and have every video (starting this week forward) have manually created CC for hearing impaired. I had automatic on but I thought it was important to be accurate. Cheers Mic!
Taking the course and watching supplemental vids, like this one, as well.
Passed yesterday with your help... thanks!
thanks for the tips, taking my test tomorrow! also, i noticed the quality of the video with proper lighting - looks great! then i saw what camera you used...dang, that's a $4k camera! i need a lot of drone work to pay for something like that...ha.
Hi Jonathan - thanks for the compliments, depends on the camera, I generally use a Canon C300MKii
I think I have now reviewed all of your TH-cam tutorials. Congratulations on passing the Rule 107 exam. (Passed the 107 two weeks ago so I watched only first of that one. I also used Drone Pilot Ground School) You mentioned upcoming tutorials with Light Room. I have great interest in those tutorials. When will you begin posting?
+Lloyd Waldron hi Lloyd, congrats on passing. There is a current playlist on my channel with about 15 videos on Lightroom, I post Lightroom videos pretty regularly
Congrats and thanks for the video Bill... I'm in Canada and at the moment there is no official testing and certification for UAV pilots. However, Transport Canada says it's not far off... possibly in 2017.
Thanks for watching, would love to heat about what Canada does
Thank you. Hope I do well trying to get everything I could get. I'm in ny area in queens.
Good luck!
your time is appreciated
Excellent Video, Thank you
Very helpful thanks so much!
Thanks @BillNicholsTV for this video. Gave me great insight on what to expect for the FAA 107 test.
Bill - the airspace under the KORF Class C outer ring is not Class G airspace. It's within a larger Class E airspace area.
Keith Carbine hey Keith, yes there is class E airspace there but where you would be flying (AGL below 400') it is class G in that location. The class E there is a non-surface class E starting at 700'. If it were a dashed magenta then it would be a class e from the surface. Unless I am not seeing the dashed surface class E marker.
Thanks for watching! Really appreciate the feedback!
Very correct.
Congratulations and great video
Good info
Thanks Bill!
The way you are showing is they are approching runway 31 not 13, is it not the end of the runway you are approaching the number and not the one number on the opposite side????
Well done Bill. Thank for the vid
Welcome Juan, thanks for watching
Great Video... The only error I heard was in regards to alcohol consumption and the time it takes to go through your body.
The general rule is "8 Hours from Bottle to Throttle" but a large number of airlines are moving to "12 hours" which I believe is a bit ridiculous.
Especially when a larger majority of humans these days are prescribed something that impairs them in some way. Ha
Alan's course at Drone Pilot Ground School is well worth the cost especially when it's a Lifetime Membership!
All the info you need you can find in the Aeronautical information Manual (AIM) of the FARAIM book. The book is about $15 the “Airspace” info will be in chapter 3. The Wx/Metar info will be in Chapter 7.
congrats Bill!
Thanks!
What are the additional steps after the certification that are needed?
Wicked3s Ad once you take your test & pass, you'll need to go home & log into the IACRA website. Enter the information given to you at the testing facility and viola! you're done. wait 24-48 hours (it's usually closer to 48) wknds don't count, and you'll get a notification to print out your temporary certificate. Print it out and keep it on you at all times while flying. Within 4-6 weeks you'll receive your official certificate in the mail. I got mine just under 4 weeks, but I took my test 2nd week in Sept. There are a lot more people testing these days so expect to receive yours closer to the 6 week mark. Another thing you'll need to do (& a lot of people forget this) you'll need to re-register your quad with the FAA as a commercial operator....that is, only if you originally registered your quad as a hobbyist. It's only 5 bucks, but it's important that you do this as you can't fly a quad commercially if it's registered as a hobbyist quad. (& visa versa) Good luck!
Thanks
I have several videos on that, or you can google FAA Part 107 - here is link to the sample test on the FAA site - www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/test_questions/media/uag_sample_exam.pdf
cheers
very helpful...gonna test very soon
Good Luck!
Good job bro! Heck my prankster sister flies around St. Paul, MN without a license and nose diving houses and stalking me and others. She acts like it's a party or something. Does the FAA even exist?? Lol
Bill, first off I don't subscribe much to youtube stuff, but I consider your channel a must. I love all of your videos. All are well thought out and well done.. First off thanks for that. Can you re-send that discount code please? I have started studying for the 107 and feel fairly lost on the FAA site material.. I'm considering using DPGS. I just don't feel like I'm retaining things just reading the FAA stuff.. Thanks and I really appreciate your work.. Props..
Awesome Pat ! I really appreciate the feedback! Did you end up trying DPGS? It would definitely help you!
Bill, you said you had a great time taking the test... I HATED it the first time I took it! I studied for months, took the test and passed with a 70, yup, just passed, but I got my Part 107 certification. Did I really not know 30% of the answers? No, I knew most of it, but the questions are purposely worded in a weird way to trip up the test taker. The nuns gave us easier tests in grade school, really (Sorry Sister Humillia). My advice is, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY until you're sick of it but know it backwards and forwards. Then, when you take the test READ EACH QUESTION VERY, VERY CAREFULLY!!!!! The way I look at this Part 107 thing is, 90% of the stuff we're required to memorize, we will NEVER use as drone pilots. Look outside and look at your local weather forecast. Is it a nice day, sunny to mostly sunny with light wind? Then go fly. If it's overcast and/or raining, don't fly. That simple. Don't fly around airports, period. Honestly, in six years of flying drones, I have only been asked to fly near a class C airport twice and I've never been asked to fly near a B, and I got FAA and ATC permission to fly the Class D. Getting DJI to unlock my drone was a much bigger deal! But, memorize the info well enough to take the test and pass it, then don't worry about for two years. Thanks for the tips Bill. Good luck to all you future test takers.
Really important to note that your runway drawing is correct, but you're referring to 13 and 31 backwards. Left downwind of 13 would be west of the runway.
Hey Robert - I need to go back and rewatch this, thanks for the feedback!
Thank you for the video! Take my test tomorrow, so looking around at all the prep material I can.
Great stuff
Thanks man glad it was helpful
Thanks Bill! I know this video is 4 years old but still lots of valuable information. Especially your explanation of the colors and the dashed lines corresponding to airspaces and the METAR. Tony Northrup gives a good METAR video as well, just to mention :-) Also, where are the links to practice tests you mentioned? So just need to go to Drone school? :-) Thanks again!
The colors and dashed lines are in the book they give you at the test. A lot of people don't realize that the legend gives most of the symbols on that chart as well. My Drone Instructor calls it the Book of Answers. I ordered one on Amazon so I'd be familiar with it.
Congratulations Bill. So why not the actual questions. Is that breaking rules?
Class Echo is not just dashed magenta. It is a faded magenta as well. Dashed magenta represents Class E Surface Areas.
Great video
Thanks James
Thanks for your video, great info and refresher. However, I think you may have mischaracterized the elevation of Class E airspace at Jamestown (JMS) at 10:41 in the video. You mentioned that JMS is a Class E "surface" floor airspace. Based on my reading I believe that JMS is Class E airspace above 700' AGL airspace due to the inclusion of the broad magenta faded line outside of, and enclosing, the dashed magenta line. According to my FAA sectional chart legend, a broad magenta faded line indicates "Class E airspace with floor 700 ft above surface". I do believe that pertains to the area inside of the dashed magenta line, too.
It doesn't pertain to the area inside the dashed magenta (or there wouldn't be dashed magenta there) you can look at this just like any other airspace with there are indication of floor and ceiling in outer shelfs. That whole shaded area is Class E at 700' and above the interior is surface class E where indicated by the dashed magenta. The Magenta scuzz area doesn't change that.
Hey, Bill, thank you for the explanation and further detail. Sort of confusing, and I came to the same conclusion as you describe late yesterday evening. Much appreciated and great video!
at 18:30 . the shelf, under 1200 is actually class A. its water within 12 nm of the us coast :), not class E :) if it were land it would be :)
That;s not correct - Class A airspace starts at 18,000 feet and extends to 60,000 feet over all land and including the first 12NM over water. That space under the shelf is class G. Class A does not begin until FL180. They include the first 12NM over water because that is the typical boundary unless extended where you leave a country's sovereign territory.
Nice Video, Broham! Nice score, as well. I hope to score that high, maybe ill get that 100% you wanted. Did they at least give you a deal for shouting out their school? I hope so, if not tell them I said you deserve some money or at least a freebee or some swag.
your link to the giveaway bag is not avable. Your video was great! Thanks.
Lu Treks thanks Lu - the giveaway was well over a year ago, but thanks for watching!
Ok, I just enrolled! I used the code!
Great info thanks
Thanks Bill. BTW, while your Cornell reference to Ultralights was interesting, for UAVs Part 107 is less complex and always a 3SM weather visibility from control station.
www.faa.gov/uas/media/Part_107_Summary.pdf
Also, at 18:36 the area under Norfork's outer Class C 40(00)/20(00) shelf isn't Glass G in this specific case. Notice to the right we see the fuzzy/vignette magenta line, meaning we are within Class E airspace and fuzzy magenta has a 700 foot floor (still a non-issue for the 400 foot UAV ceiling... unless we are working above a 200 foot structure, etc).
BTW at 19:48, per the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR)
91.17 no person may operate or attempt to operate an aircraft within 8 hours of having consumed alcohol.
Hello Bill ,
thank you for the help and good job only missing 6 .. May seem like a silly question but I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around it.. understanding the Airspace at 10 :45 in your video - I dont see a dashed magenta line I see a house blue dashed line that is making me think that the outer ring is class D airspace.. then I see faded magenta circle-- I am so confused -- Im trying to make this make sence.. im screwed..lol
I think 17:20 answered my question -- that sectioned line is not a air space circle but still dont know what it is ..lol
Music_360 the big not dash, but serrated blue circle is a vor, or radar/ils approach system :)
Music_360 when he says dashed magenta, he means the rectangle (and semi circle top and bottom,dashed magenta) lined area. thats the airport area. the big blue not dashed, but serrated oval is a vor radar approach.
Got it thanks!Passed 107 last week - Omg it was hard I read every question twice... Heads up if someone want to add this question.. for future vids.. .... the first question I was asked ask was .. !. What is the Rudder used for on an Airplane! No shit! 1. Yaw 2. Pitch Roll 3. Elevation maybe not a hard question but it can throw you off..
Super helpful.👍
Glad you found it so!
FYI, just signed up with the discount code and it still works as of Jan. 16 2017.
That's awesome Gary! What did you think?
BillNicholsTV , great course. I was going to give myself all of February to study, but I went through the course and got 90% - 95% on the practice tests as well as some other practice tests I found. So I'm going to take the real test on Friday. I'm pumped!
Hi, sorry i love your trick for remembering airspace classes & their colors. However, I think you have a slight error there. Isn't class "E" airspace "Faded" Magenta not "dashed" as you say? Isn't "dashed" Magenta class "G" airspace, or am I missing something? Please let me know. Thanks.
Thanks! To clarify there are a few different indicators for Class E:
Dashed from surface to 700AGL
Faded from 700-1200
Faded blue from 1200 above
I am doing this from memory I haven't looked at them from years. Glad you found it helpful!
thank you this is an amazing video.
Bill,
You said you can't wait till the FAA posts your name on their site, and then you can complete the rest of the Part 107 parts. What else has to be done after passing? I missed something big, I guess!
Thanks. Your vid was informative!
Robert
I got an 88. Got sloppy at the end due to feeling that I was over the hump.
Congrats on passing!
airplane heading to 13 would be west at downwind midfield you would land on a heading of 130
Thank you so much
Congrats, Bill! I am studying for my test and plan on taking it in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the information, I find it very helpful. Do you have some links to sample tests, outside of Drone Pilot School?
Dave - let me dig up later tonight - ill put something on here if I can find - DPGS has 5 and they were the best set of question I had seen
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!L! Congratulationsssss
Thanks!
Congrats! I do have two questions: What are the additional applications you will have to apply for and complete? Also, had a hard time following the runway 1 3 and the mid left field description. Anyway to break down the basic directions and additional info on downwinds and crosswind leg.
Thank yo so much, this video and Northup's video helped me pass the test. As soon as the sectional chart questions started i was thinking "blue, magenta, blue magenta, solid solid, dot, dot 😂. Thanks again.
That's great Kris, congrats!
hey Bill,
I really love your pieces here on UT. You have an excellent presentation and thoughtful, well organized flow of excellent info that's very well delivered and tremendous help.
I actually just yesterday took my Remote Pilot's test and passed it 10/17/18 (I'm outside of Philly, PA), a few of those questions were directly from this video and helped me get the passing grade. I'm now looking at next steps. I need much more practical field work and direction for the flight work. I'm flying a DJI P4P and have seen a few of your videos for Point of Interest and Course Lock, really nice and extremely helpful. Do you recommend taking further course instruction for say real estate work, or just get out and practice these 2 programs for a starting point? How much extra course instruction do you recommend?
Let me know and many thanks for all you're doing to keep the sUSA's out there flying!!
Jay Wiley
Awesome video. Very helpful. I m partial color blind. I can't differentiate magenta and blue, etc. is there other options I can learn to read air space maps?
Hey Powerups - you are now the second person that I have heard this from. I am going to see what the FAA has to say about this.
Thanks.
Same with me - having a hard time seeing Magenta on the sectional charts due to partial color blindness to certain shades of red and green together.. they look grey and then adding to that, the stacking of E and G air spaces is really confusing
The ADA must require some type of colorblind version. Anyone know about this?
there must be color blind pilots of aircraft since the beginning of flight, how could they miss this?
Hey Bill loved the video. Huge help!! Quick question... for the answer choices do they give you 3 or 4 choices for each question? Thanks!
Tony Northrup says the minimum required visibility is 3SM in his video
From one Bill to another, thank you. Where did you get the material to study from? I'be scoured the FAA site and it is crazy! Any help you would be willng to share with me would be appreciated. Thanks for being a pioneer on this.
-Bill Ball
Could you give some information as to what type of questions are apart of the written section on the test?
The whole test is writtent, exactly what you see in these videos
thanks for this... me looking at all videos.. trying to save me $$.. I have some pilot knowledge.
Good video. I see no reason anyone should have to know this to fly a simple drone just to make money but if you are flying for fun you don't have to do any of this.
When you are dealing with airspace it's not really a "simple drone" in my opinion. I think the regulations the FAA (and I am not some advocate for the FAA) has put forward are pretty fair. They are a bit behind the curve but all this popped up so quick, they are really doing a lot to work with the pro community.
eknight003 I understand that. Just not why it only applies if you want to make money. Some of this stuff I already know since I did retire from the USAF. If it's a safety issue then everyone who flies should have to certify.
Around 12:30, that isn't the relevant law. That is part 103, which only applies to ultralights. Under part 107, the relevant reg would be 14 cfr 107.51(c), which always requires 3sm visibility, even if you are in class G airspace (the reg you referenced only requires 1sm). In the example you gave, 107.41 would also apply, as you are operating in surface E airspace surrounding an airport.
Airports don't have set visibility requirements, it all depends on the rules you are flying under. The main ones are part 91, part 103, part 107, part 121, part 125, and part 135. It gets even more complicated, because, for instance, part 91 has both instrument flight and visual flight rules. Under visual flight rules you need 3sm around most airports* but under instrument flight rules you only need to be able to see the runway by decision altitude (typically a few hundred feet), and you can takeoff in zero visibility (though it isn't advised).
That's getting way to in depth into it, but the point is the question should specify, or at least imply, what rules the flight is being conducted under. If it doesn't say it's probably safe to assume the flight is being conducted under part 107, in which case the answer is always 3sm of visibility.
I'm happy to answer any questions about this, thanks for the informative video :)
*unless you're flying special VFR, in which case minimum is 1 mile
The part which I am still fuzzy on is entering controlled airspace and need to contact the tower for permission. As a drone pilot, do you need to call on a phone and seek clearance for instance within 5 mile radius of D airspace?
no - not within 5 miles, because at 5 miles it is likely that the shelf is above 400', if you are not a certified remote pilot then you cannot fly within 5 miles. The FAA has an exception process and up until last month you could call a tower and get a waiver, now you have to go through their process and give about 90 days. I have not yet seen any waivers granted for airspace exception.
Thanks man👍