FAA Part 107 loading and performance practice questions
20 free practice questions from FAA-G-8082-22. Each answer is explained and linked to the rule it comes from.
Part 107 Loading and performance
20 questions across 6 topics. After each answer you see why it is right, with a link to the official source.
Tip: press A, B, C or D to answer and Enter for the next question. Nothing you answer leaves your browser.
Review all 20 questions
Prefer to read? Here is every question in the Part 107 Loading and performance set, grouped by topic. Open a question to see the answer, why it is right and the official source.
Loading before flight
1. A remote pilot's small UA will release a jettisonable load partway through the flight. According to the Study Guide, what should the remote PIC determine?
- A. Nothing, because the CG is a fixed point marked on the aircraft
- B. How the CG will shift and the resultant effects on the aircraft
- C. Only whether the takeoff weight is under the maximum gross takeoff weight
- D. Which air traffic facility must approve the release
Show answer
Answer: B. How the CG will shift and the resultant effects on the aircraft
The Study Guide says weight change during flight "may occur when expendable items are used on board (e.g., a jettisonable load)." It adds: "As variable load items are shifted or expended, there may be a resultant shift in CG location. The remote PIC should determine how the CG will shift and the resultant effects on the aircraft."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
2. A manufacturer lists a maximum gross takeoff weight for a small UA. What does the Study Guide say about taking off with that load?
- A. It is safe under all conditions because the manufacturer specified it
- B. It applies only to fixed-wing aircraft
- C. It may be exceeded at high elevations
- D. The aircraft may not always safely take off with this load under all conditions
Show answer
Answer: D. The aircraft may not always safely take off with this load under all conditions
The Study Guide says "Although a maximum gross takeoff weight may be specified, the aircraft may not always safely take off with this load under all conditions."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
3. According to the Study Guide, what is the most common weight change that takes place during flight?
- A. Fuel burn
- B. Rain collecting on the airframe
- C. Battery drain at the control station
- D. Ice forming on the propellers
Show answer
Answer: A. Fuel burn
The Study Guide says "Fuel burn is the most common weight change that takes place during flight."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
4. A small UA weighs 49 pounds with its battery, and the operator attaches a 7-pound camera before takeoff. Under the 107.3 definition, is it a small unmanned aircraft?
- A. Yes, because a camera payload is not counted
- B. Yes, because only the empty weight counts
- C. No, because its takeoff weight with everything on board or attached is 56 pounds, which is not less than 55 pounds
- D. Yes, because the weight limit applies only after takeoff
Show answer
Answer: C. No, because its takeoff weight with everything on board or attached is 56 pounds, which is not less than 55 pounds
107.3: "Small unmanned aircraft means an unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft." Here 49 + 7 = 56 pounds.
Center of gravity and lift
5. According to the Study Guide, what would happen if an aircraft were supported at its exact center of gravity (CG)?
- A. It would balance in any attitude
- B. It would pitch nose down
- C. It would pitch nose up
- D. It would roll toward the heavier wing
Show answer
Answer: A. It would balance in any attitude
The Study Guide says "If the aircraft were supported at its exact CG, it would balance in any attitude."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
6. According to the Study Guide, why is the center of gravity (CG) of major importance in a small UA?
- A. Its position sets how far the remote pilot may fly from the control station
- B. Its position is the same for every small UA, so it sets one weight limit for all of them
- C. Its position has a great bearing upon stability
- D. Its position determines which airspace class the aircraft may enter
Show answer
Answer: C. Its position has a great bearing upon stability
The Study Guide says "CG is of major importance in a small UA, for its position has a great bearing upon stability." It adds that "The allowable location of the CG is determined by the general design of each particular aircraft."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
7. According to the Study Guide, where do designers fix the aft limit of the CG in order to retain flight equilibrium?
- A. Aft of the CP
- B. Forward of the CP for the corresponding flight speed
- C. Exactly at the CP at all flight speeds
- D. At the aircraft's geometric center
Show answer
Answer: B. Forward of the CP for the corresponding flight speed
The Study Guide says "designers fix the aft limit of the CG forward of the CP for the corresponding flight speed in order to retain flight equilibrium."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
8. A small UA in stabilized level flight starts producing less lift than its weight. What does the Study Guide say happens to the vertical speed?
- A. It will increase
- B. It stays the same because the aircraft remains in equilibrium
- C. It increases until the aircraft accelerates upward
- D. It will decrease
Show answer
Answer: D. It will decrease
The Study Guide says "If lift becomes less than weight, the vertical speed will decrease." Only when lift equals weight is the aircraft "in a state of equilibrium".
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
Stability and controllability
9. How does the Study Guide characterize stability?
- A. Primarily a matter of piloting technique
- B. Primarily an aircraft design characteristic
- C. A quality set by the weather on the day of flight
- D. A quality the remote pilot sets in the control station software
Show answer
Answer: B. Primarily an aircraft design characteristic
The Study Guide says stability "is primarily an aircraft design characteristic."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
10. A remote pilot flies two small UAs with very different stability characteristics and compares the quality of each aircraft's response to her control inputs while maneuvering it. According to the Study Guide, which quality is she comparing?
- A. Controllability
- B. Stability
- C. Maneuverability
- D. Equilibrium
Show answer
Answer: A. Controllability
Controllability is "the capability of an aircraft to respond to the pilot's control, especially with regard to flight path and attitude." The Study Guide adds: "It is the quality of the aircraft's response to the pilot's control application when maneuvering the aircraft, regardless of its stability characteristics."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
11. Which factors does the Study Guide say govern an aircraft's maneuverability?
- A. Ambient temperature, humidity and pressure
- B. The pilot's experience and training only
- C. Weight, inertia, size and location of flight controls, structural strength, and powerplant
- D. The control link frequency and range
Show answer
Answer: C. Weight, inertia, size and location of flight controls, structural strength, and powerplant
The Study Guide says maneuverability "is governed by the aircraft's weight, inertia, size and location of flight controls, structural strength, and powerplant."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
Load factor, turns and stalls
12. For any given bank angle, how does the Study Guide say the rate of turn varies with airspeed?
- A. The higher the speed, the faster the rate of turn
- B. The rate of turn does not depend on airspeed
- C. The rate of turn depends only on aircraft weight
- D. The higher the speed, the slower the rate of turn
Show answer
Answer: D. The higher the speed, the slower the rate of turn
The Study Guide says "For any given bank angle, the rate-of-turn varies with the airspeed—the higher the speed, the slower the rate-of-turn (ROT)."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
13. The Study Guide gives two reasons why load factors are important. One is that an increased load factor increases the stalling speed and makes stalls possible at seemingly safe flight speeds. What is the other?
- A. It is possible for a pilot to impose a dangerous overload on the aircraft structures
- B. A higher load factor reduces the aircraft's weight during a turn
- C. Load factors set how far the aircraft may fly from the control station
- D. Load factors apply only to aircraft weighing 55 pounds or more
Show answer
Answer: A. It is possible for a pilot to impose a dangerous overload on the aircraft structures
With aircraft structures "planned to withstand only a certain amount of overload", the Study Guide's first reason is: "It is possible for a pilot to impose a dangerous overload on the aircraft structures."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
14. According to the Study Guide, why can stalling an aircraft at a relatively high airspeed impose tremendous loads on its structure?
- A. Because the load factor is halved as the stalling speed doubles
- B. Because the aircraft's weight increases with airspeed
- C. Because stalls at relatively high airspeeds can occur only in straight-and-level flight
- D. Because the load factor is squared as the stalling speed doubles
Show answer
Answer: D. Because the load factor is squared as the stalling speed doubles
The Study Guide says "Since the load factor is squared as the stalling speed doubles, tremendous loads may be imposed on structures by stalling an aircraft at relatively high airspeeds."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
Weight control and overloading
15. A remote pilot attaches a payload that leaves the CG outside the approved limits. What does the Study Guide say operating this way results in?
- A. Improved maneuverability
- B. A lower stalling speed
- C. Control difficulty
- D. Longer range
Show answer
Answer: C. Control difficulty
The Study Guide says "Operation with the center of gravity (CG) outside the approved limits results in control difficulty."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
16. Which factors does the Study Guide name as limiting the amount of lift an airfoil produces?
- A. Only the aircraft's weight
- B. The airfoil design, angle of attack, airspeed, and air density
- C. Only the battery's state of charge
- D. The distance between the aircraft and the control station
Show answer
Answer: B. The airfoil design, angle of attack, airspeed, and air density
The Study Guide says "The amount of lift produced by an airfoil is limited by the airfoil design, AOA, airspeed, and air density."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
17. A remote pilot plans to fly a small UA with excessive weight on a day when other performance-reducing factors are also present. According to the Study Guide, how does combining these factors with the excess weight affect the hazard?
- A. The other factors offset the excess weight
- B. Excess weight matters only when no other factors are present
- C. Excess weight has no effect on the safety margins
- D. The excess weight becomes even more hazardous
Show answer
Answer: D. The excess weight becomes even more hazardous
The Study Guide says "Excessive weight in itself reduces the safety margins available to the pilot and becomes even more hazardous when other performance-reducing factors are combined with excess weight."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
Performance and performance data
18. According to the Study Guide, what must an aircraft do to maintain a given altitude and speed when weight is added to it?
- A. Fly at a higher angle of attack, which increases induced and parasite drag
- B. Fly at a lower angle of attack, which reduces drag
- C. Keep the same angle of attack and gain reserve thrust
- D. Fly at a lower angle of attack, which reduces parasite drag only
Show answer
Answer: A. Fly at a higher angle of attack, which increases induced and parasite drag
The Study Guide says "If weight is added to an aircraft, it must fly at a higher angle of attack (AOA) to maintain a given altitude and speed." This "increases the induced drag of the wings, as well as the parasite drag of the aircraft."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
19. Why does the Study Guide say the climb performance of an aircraft diminishes with altitude?
- A. An increase in altitude decreases the power required and increases the power available
- B. Air density increases with altitude
- C. An increase in altitude increases the power required and decreases the power available
- D. The aircraft's weight increases with altitude
Show answer
Answer: C. An increase in altitude increases the power required and decreases the power available
The Study Guide says "An increase in altitude also increases the power required and decreases the power available. Therefore, the climb performance of an aircraft diminishes with altitude."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)
20. Which operational performance data does the Study Guide say a manufacturer may provide for an aircraft?
- A. Airspace class boundaries and NOTAM codes
- B. Data pertaining to takeoff, climb, range, endurance, descent, and landing
- C. Remote pilot medical and certificate records
- D. METAR and TAF codes for the launch site
Show answer
Answer: B. Data pertaining to takeoff, climb, range, endurance, descent, and landing
The Study Guide says the manufacturer may provide "operational performance data for the aircraft such as data pertaining to takeoff, climb, range, endurance, descent, and landing."
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide (August 2016)