RPC Airport and Off-Site Operations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A remote pilot wants to fly a sUAS within 2 nautical miles of a towered airport. Which authorization method allows operations without contacting ATC directly?
- File a NOTAM 24 hours in advance
- Use the FAA LAANC system for automated authorization (Correct answer)
- Obtain a COA from the FAA Flight Standards office
- Contact the nearest FSS for a waiver
Correct answer: Use the FAA LAANC system for automated authorization
LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) provides near-real-time automated airspace authorization for sUAS operations near airports.
Question 2: When operating a drone near a non-towered airport, which of the following is most important for the remote pilot to do?
- Broadcast position on 121.5 MHz every 10 minutes
- Monitor the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and yield to manned aircraft (Correct answer)
- Obtain a written agreement from the airport manager before flight
- File a flight plan with the nearest ARTCC
Correct answer: Monitor the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and yield to manned aircraft
At non-towered airports, remote pilots should monitor the CTAF and yield right-of-way to manned aircraft at all times.
Question 3: A sUAS operation is planned at a location where the airspace authorization grid ceiling shown in LAANC is 0 feet AGL. What does this mean?
- Operations are permitted up to 400 feet AGL without authorization
- No automatic LAANC authorization is available; a manual FAA DroneZone waiver is required (Correct answer)
- The pilot must stay below 100 feet AGL
- The drone must remain within visual line of sight only
Correct answer: No automatic LAANC authorization is available; a manual FAA DroneZone waiver is required
A 0-foot LAANC ceiling means automated authorization is unavailable and the pilot must request a manual waiver through FAA DroneZone.
Question 4: During a sUAS flight near a Class D airport, the tower issues a traffic advisory about a helicopter on final approach. What should the remote pilot do?
- Maintain current altitude to remain visible to the helicopter pilot
- Immediately descend and move the sUAS away from the approach path (Correct answer)
- Hover in place and wait for the helicopter to pass
- Increase altitude to clear the helicopter's flight path
Correct answer: Immediately descend and move the sUAS away from the approach path
Remote pilots must yield right-of-way to all manned aircraft, which means descending and moving clear of the approach path immediately.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a runway protection zone (RPZ) at an airport?
- To designate where aircraft refuel before departure
- To protect aircraft and people from accidents involving aircraft landing short or overrunning the runway (Correct answer)
- To define the area where ATC has radar coverage
- To mark the boundary of Class D airspace
Correct answer: To protect aircraft and people from accidents involving aircraft landing short or overrunning the runway
The RPZ is an area off the runway end intended to enhance the protection of people and property on the ground in the event of an aircraft undershoot or overrun.
Question 6: A remote pilot receives LAANC approval to fly at 200 feet AGL near an airport. The pilot notices a manned aircraft descending through 200 feet on approach. What must the pilot do?
- The LAANC approval gives priority over manned aircraft below 400 feet
- Immediately yield right-of-way by descending or moving clear of the aircraft (Correct answer)
- Maintain position since the authorized altitude was legally granted
- Flash the drone's lights to alert the approaching pilot
Correct answer: Immediately yield right-of-way by descending or moving clear of the aircraft
LAANC authorization does not override the requirement to yield right-of-way to all manned aircraft at any altitude.
Question 7: Which factor would most likely require a remote pilot to seek a Part 107 waiver rather than standard LAANC authorization for airport operations?
- Flying during daylight hours at 300 feet AGL in Class D airspace
- Flying at night within the airport traffic area (Correct answer)
- Operating within 5 miles of an untowered airport
- Using a drone weighing more than 0.55 pounds
Correct answer: Flying at night within the airport traffic area
Nighttime sUAS operations require either a Part 107 night waiver or a remote pilot to hold a night-rated certification, as standard Part 107 originally restricted daytime-only flight.
RPC Airport and Off-Site Operations 2
A remote pilot wants to fly a sUAS within 2 nautical miles of a towered airport.
Which authorization method allows operations without contacting ATC directly?