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FAA Remote Pilot Test Prep Resources |
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There are a lot of online resources to assist in studying for the test. In general, I'd trust material presented by an actual certified flight instructor (CFI) more than any drone enthusiast. The UAS test borrows heavily in some sections from other pilot test material, and it helps to think like a pilot when trying to understand the questions. Even the language used in the UAS regulation sometimes is borrowed from other FAA regulations. I doubt most drone guys have this background or perspective, and it might limit their understanding of the material. For example, the location of most controlled airspace makes significantly more sense if you consider the requirements of pilots trying to land using instruments in low visibility.
The ASA Remote Pilot Test Prep is the guide I personally used as a supplement to the FAA materials. The free sample tests were worth the price alone in my opinion. If you can get a 90% on the sample tests, you won't have any problem on the actual test. The same company has a cheaper app that allows you to take practice tests on you phone. It's called prepware and was highly recommended by folks at the UAS workshop this year in Frankfort, Ky. Among the video-based options, remotepilot 101 was recommended by several folks who participated in a UAS panel discussion with me. Otherwise, Drone Pilot Ground School also seems to be popular. Like the book, these resources are basically an alternate way of being exposed to the FAA material. The most important meterials from the FAA are, in my opinion, the Part 107 Rule, the Remote Pilot Study Guide and advisory circular AC 107-2. The Remote Pilot Airman Certification Standards is a granular breakdown of all of the elements that are tested and the publications from which they are drawn. The knowledge test supplement actually has all of the charts and figures used during the test, so it is worthwhile to take a look at that before taking the test. The other guides are more general references. Two sites offering online study courses have published most missed questions, or examples of the most common questions that show up on the test, which are useful for review. |
| Remote Pilot Study Guide | The FAA's own guide outlining the information you need to know for the test they created. |
| Remote Pilot Airman Certification Standards | This guide itemizes specific knowledge items from which the test questions are derived, and identifies the reference documents from which the items were drawn. |
| knowledge supplement | Contains all of the maps, charts, and graphics that are used for answering questions on the actual test |
| 14 CFR Part 107 | The regulation governing small UAS use. Anything in this document is fair game for the test |
| 14 CFR Part 48 | Subpart C defines requirement for UAS registration and marking. Note that registration numbers now have to be externally visible, contrary to initial requirements, which allowed the registration number to be in a compartment that could be accessed without tools. |
| Aeronautical Chart User Guide | relevant info primarily found on pp. 11-40 |
| AC 107-2 | This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for conducting small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) in accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 107 |
| Aeronautical Information Manual | |
| FAA-H-8083-2 | Risk Management Handbook |
| FAA-H-8083-25 | Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge |
| AC_00-6B | Aviation Weather |