A Narative of taking the sUAS License Test
I’ve been interested in drones and their potential since being exposed to them, but this would be the first time that I’d have to sit down and take a written test on them. When first being told that I would take the UAS remote pilot test I had only just finished reading the FAA’s release of the new drone laws in Part 107. To study for this test, I would need much more than just an understanding of the laws regarding UAS, but also how to read VFR charts and understand other important procedures required for commercial flight.
My coworkers and I fist gauged our UAS knowledge by taking the study guide test that was released by the FAA. This test encompassed far more than just the laws that I had read previously, it also had many questions on VFR charts which I had never read before. Though I was able to correctly guess some of the questions, I was not at all prepared for an exam that would have me read and understand those maps. I decided that this would be my area of focus for studying as I felt confident in my knowledge of the laws.
I sought out online quizzes and references to explain the symbols and markings and to put me to the test. Slowly I was able to differentiate many different markings and their meanings, from airports, to restricted areas, I had practiced them all. With an understanding of VFR charts added to my arsenal I felt quite prepared for the exam. I knew I had avoided certain areas of study such as performance because I believed them to be a relatively minor part of the exam and that I could reason through a problem logically without too much risk.
When the test day arrives the first thing I do is drive to the wrong location. I had planned to arrive slightly early to the site and cram in some additional studying, but now I wouldn’t be able to. None the less, the test itself went as expected though there were more questions on performance than I had expected. Preparing for the test in the way I had proved to be useful, I didn’t have second thoughts on any of the problems that I had studied for. This, however, was contrasted by confusion on several curveball questions involving performance.
I passed and in the end I enjoyed the exam, I had learned far more about drones and airspace than I had expected to ever know. I expect to continue learning about drones and using them commercially or for research. Given that, the process reminded me of taking my permit test, being given a license for knowing all the rules but not really confirming my ability to operate a car proficiently, hopefully I’ll be able to practice and be a good pilot.
