Okay, so you want to take the test and get a Part 107 license, but what is the test going to be like?
Well, today I want to go into what to expect on the test.
On the Test
Now, I’m not going to get into specifics, as you can use the practice tests I mentioned last time. Instead I want to focus on the main things you need to have an understanding of.
Weather is one of the most important things you need to be aware of. You need to have a basic understanding of weather patterns. The will defiantly be questions about cloud types and stable vs unstable air. This is important, because this will determine if it is safe to even fly (Please remember to check your manual for any and all weather limitations). Make sure you understand how to read METARs and TAFs (These are explained in the Tony Northrup video I mentioned last time).
The other important thing to understand is how to read aeronautical charts and the supplements. These seem very confusing at first, but once you get used to them, you should have no problem reading one. You must be able to find obstruction heights, airspaces, radio frequencies, etc.
It is also good to understand how planes fly. You should understand the basics of takeoff and landing as it concerns plane on the runway.
Continuing with the flight aspect, you need to be able to read a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). These are special notifications of hazards or flight shutdowns.
Now for the terms. There are a few important terms that you need to know.
The first is I’M SAFE and is a way to determine if you are fit to fly.
I is for Illness. You should not fly while sick.
M is for Medication. Like illness, you should not fly while consuming medication that could effect your cognitive skills.
S is for Stress. If you are worried about other things it will diminish your concentration.
A is for Alcohol. The old adage is 8 hours from bottle to throttle, but it should be noted that if you are drunk or feeling the after effects (such as hangover) you should not fly.
F is for Fatigue. Like many other things, being tired will hurt your ability to fly.
E is for Emotion. If you have something happens that upsets you, you should not be flying. This can be treated like stress (Note: some consider E for Eating, which is true, you must be nourished, but the FAA includes that as part of fatigue).
The other bit of knowledge you should be aware of is hazardous attitudes while flying. Be sure to understand these and how to correct them.
Anti authority. This is a neglect for rules, because you think you know better. The way to combat it is to follow the rules.
Impassivity. This is getting in a hurry, which can lead to cutting corners. The way to combat it is to slow down and think.
Invulnerability. This is thinking that nothing bad will happen to you. The way to combat this is by always being aware that anything can happen to you and to know what to do if it does.
Macho. This is the bad “I can do it” attitude where bad you think you can do things that you have never done before, especially dangerous thing. The way to combat this is to not do foolish acts. Remember, you’ve got a machine up in the air!
Resignation. This is when you give up and leave things to the hands of fate. The way to combat this is to think that there is always something you can do.
Finally, make sure you have an understanding of flight operations. These include load factor, responsibility, etc.
Ready to Go
Now that you are ready. It is time to take the test. Next time I will wrap this series up with how to set up the test and what to do when you take the test.
‘Til next time.
Cheers,
Shane H. Wilder