UAS Loading, Performance & Emergency Procedures Flashcards

A sUAS experiences a sudden loss of video feed from the FPV camera during flight. The remote pilot should:

Answer: Maintain visual line of sight (VLOS) using direct visual observation and land safely

FPV video is not a substitute for VLOS; when video is lost, the pilot must rely on direct visual observation to safely complete and terminate the flight.

Which of the following BEST describes 'maximum range' airspeed for a battery-powered fixed-wing UAS?

Answer: The airspeed at which the aircraft travels the greatest distance per unit of energy consumed

Maximum range is achieved at the airspeed where the ratio of distance covered to energy used is highest, balancing aerodynamic efficiency against power consumption.

During a flight, the UAS warning system indicates low battery and triggers auto-land. The pilot is over a busy road. The BEST action is to:

Answer: Override auto-land and fly to a safer landing zone immediately

The pilot retains authority to override automated systems; if landing over a road poses danger to people, the pilot must manually redirect the aircraft to a safer area while battery remains.

Adding weight above the UAS's center of gravity (e.g., a top-mounted antenna) affects stability by:

Answer: Raising the effective CG and making the aircraft less stable in roll and pitch

Mass mounted above the CG raises the effective center of gravity, reducing pendulum stability and making the aircraft more susceptible to rolling and pitching disturbances.

A sUAS that is consistently tail-heavy will exhibit which flight characteristic?

Answer: A tendency to pitch nose-up, reducing airspeed and potentially stalling

A tail-heavy CG causes the nose to pitch up; in a fixed-wing UAS this raises the angle of attack, increases drag, reduces airspeed, and risks a stall.

Which emergency best practice should a remote pilot perform BEFORE each flight to prepare for a potential forced landing?

Answer: Identify suitable emergency landing areas within the operational area

Pre-identifying suitable emergency landing areas allows the pilot to react quickly and decisively if a forced landing becomes necessary, minimizing harm to people and property.

A UAS manufacturer specifies a maximum payload of 500 grams. The remote pilot attaches a 480-gram camera and a 60-gram ND filter kit. This configuration is:

Answer: Unacceptable because the combined payload of 540 grams exceeds the manufacturer's limit

The maximum payload limit applies to the total combined payload weight; 480g + 60g = 540g exceeds the 500g limit regardless of individual item weights.