Operations

38% of the Part 107 test · blueprint FAA-S-ACS-10B (April 2021)

Short answer

Area V is the largest area on the Part 107 test at 35–45% of items. It covers radio communication procedures and phraseology, airport operations including traffic patterns and runway markings, emergency procedures such as lost link and flyaways, aeronautical decision making and crew resource management, physiology (fatigue, stress, dehydration, hyperventilation, medications), maintenance and preflight inspection procedures, and night operations.

Why it matters on this exam

Almost half the test. Most candidates who fail do so here because the topics feel "soft"; the questions are not.

Key concepts (ACS Tasks V.A–V.G)

Radio communications: CTAF/UNICOM at non-towered airports; phonetic alphabet; runway numbers are magnetic headings ÷ 10 (runway 27 ≈ 270°); a remote PIC may monitor but does not need to transmit.
Airport operations: traffic pattern legs (upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, final), standard left turns; runway markings (displaced threshold, hold-short lines); right-of-way — sUAS must yield to all manned aircraft.
Emergency procedures: lost link/RTH behaviour, flyaway response, battery fires (do not use water on lithium fires; move away, let it burn out on a safe surface), deviate from rules only to the extent required by the emergency and report if asked.
ADM/CRM: hazardous attitudes (anti-authority, impulsivity, invulnerability, macho, resignation) and their antidotes; PAVE (Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures) and IMSAFE (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion); risk matrix (likelihood × severity).
Physiology: dehydration and heat stress on the flight line, hyperventilation vs hypoxia, drugs — including OTC — that impair judgment.
Maintenance and inspection (§107.15, §107.49): preflight checklist, control link, batteries, props, firmware; record keeping.
Night operations: anti-collision lights visible 3 SM; night vision adaptation takes ~30 minutes; use of off-center viewing; avoiding bright lights.

Common mistakes

Answering a battery-fire question with "extinguish with water".
Confusing "resignation" (what's the use?) with "invulnerability" (it won't happen to me).

Worked example

You hear "Cessna 4-2-Alpha, turning base, runway 1-8" on CTAF. The aircraft will turn final toward heading ~180°, descending; your survey grid near the approach end of runway 18 must yield — land or hold clear until it passes.

Original practice questions

OperationsDifficulty 2/5

A remote pilot thinks, 'Regulations are for other people; I know what I'm doing.' Which hazardous attitude is this, and what is its antidote?

AInvulnerability — 'It could happen to me'
BResignation — 'I'm not helpless; I can make a difference'
CImpulsivity — 'Not so fast, think first'
DAnti-authority — 'Follow the rules; they are usually right'

Show answer and rationale

Correct: D. Dismissing rules and authority is the anti-authority attitude. The FAA antidote is 'Follow the rules. They are usually right.'

C — Impulsivity is acting without thinking.
A — Invulnerability is believing accidents happen only to others.
B — Resignation is feeling powerless.

OperationsDifficulty 2/5

A lithium-polymer battery begins to smoke and swell after landing. The best immediate response is:

AMove it away from people and flammable materials onto a non-combustible surface and let it burn out or use a Class D or ABC extinguisher as appropriate
BPlace it back in the aircraft to contain the fire
CPour water on it
DPut it in a sealed container in the vehicle

Show answer and rationale

Correct: A. Lithium battery fires are self-sustaining; the priority is isolating the hazard from people and fuel. Water can spread burning electrolyte, and sealing it in a vehicle risks a larger fire.

C — Water can spread a lithium fire.
D — A sealed vehicle container concentrates heat and gas.
B — The aircraft is combustible and valuable; do not re-contain.

OperationsDifficulty 2/5

You hear on CTAF: 'Skyhawk 3-4-Bravo, left base, runway 1-8.' Which direction is the aircraft's final approach heading, and what must you do?

AAbout 180°; the aircraft must yield to your sUAS
BAbout 180°; yield to the manned aircraft
CAbout 018°; continue your flight
DAbout 360°; request the aircraft to hold

Show answer and rationale

Correct: B. Runway 18 is aligned near 180° magnetic. A left base means the aircraft will shortly turn final toward 180°. Under §107.37 the sUAS must yield right-of-way to all manned aircraft.

C — Runway numbers are heading ÷ 10; 18 ≈ 180°.
D — Runway 18 is not 360°, and you cannot direct manned traffic.
A — sUAS always yield to manned aircraft.

All 7 Operations questions →

Tools for this topic

Part 107 preflight and operations checklist — A regulation-mapped preflight checklist — registration, Remote ID, airspace authorization, weather minimums, VLOS, anti-collision lighting, crew briefing — each item tied to the Part 107 rule it comes from.

3 flashcards for Operations

Practice this topic

Blueprint-mapped questions with full rationales for every choice.

Start practice

Primary references

Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-10B, April 2021) — Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · government · retrieved 2026-09-21, verified 2026-09-21
14 CFR Part 107 — Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems — U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) · government · retrieved 2026-09-21, verified 2026-09-21

Last reviewed: 2026-09-21Next review by: 2026-11-20Draft — pending editorial reviewHow we verify facts