ES 590: Independent Study

sUAS Operations

Have you ever wondered what it takes to fly a drone? If you plan on flying a drone for anything other than recreational use such as academic research, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has clear rules and guidelines for the operations of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Remote pilots must pass the FAA Part 107 exam to obtain certification. The exam covers a wide range of topics including FAA rules and regulations, the national airspace system, reading sectional charts, airport operations, weather and micrometeorology, drone flight operations, and more. In order to prepare for the exam, folks may study on their own using materials provided by the FAA or participate in instructor-led training sessions. The latter option can be quite expensive with courses ranging from $250-500. In this independent study experience, students will both prepare for the FAA exam and gain hands-on remote pilot experience through instructional materials and study resources, individualized coaching and/or group discussions, and practice exams, and the context of a research objective. Prerequisite: N/A

Resources

• Syllabus and Schedule

• Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement (full)

• Appendix 1 - Sectional Aeronautical Chart

• Remote Pilot - sUAS Study Guide

• Booking your FAA Part 107 exam

• Applying for your Remote Pilot Certificate

• sUAS flight maneuvers

Instructional videos

• Set 1: Regulations, physiological factors, and aeronautical decision-making

• Set 2: Night operations and National Airspace Classification

• Set 3: Aeronautical Sectional Charts, airport operations, and radio communication procedures

• Set 4: Effects of Weather on sUAS performance, aviation weather sources, and METAR weather reports

• Set 5: sUAS loading, emergency procedures, and crew resource management

Quizzes

• Quiz 1: Regulations, physiological factors, and aeronautical decision-making

• Quiz 2: Night operations and National Airspace Classification

• Quiz 3: Aeronautical Sectional Charts, airport operations, and radio communication procedures

• Quiz 4: Effects of Weather on sUAS performance, aviation weather sources, and METAR weather reports

• Quiz 5: sUAS loading, emergency procedures, and crew resource management

Practice Exams

• Practice Exam 1

• Practice Exam 2

Recent students
These students are official FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilots!!

• Sarah Csonka '26

• Lauren Daugherty '25

• Julia Desanto '25

• Grant Dowden '25

• Ethan Scott '25

• Rachel Ditzenberger '24

• Travis Dear '24

• Lindsey Kutz '24

• Heather Landis '24

• Emmett Manning '24

• Anthony Swanson '24

• Hannah Heutsche '23