Resource Library
Resource Library
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Acquiring your Remote Pilot Certificate
Acquiring your Remote Pilot Certificate
Describes the steps to become a Part 107 certificated remote pilot, including all relevant links. TRUST certification for recreation-only pilots is also included.
Describes the steps to become a Part 107 certificated remote pilot, including all relevant links. TRUST certification for recreation-only pilots is also included.
FAA Remote Pilot Airman Certification Standards - describes what you must be able to do to be certificated under Part 107.
FAA Remote Pilot Airman Certification Standards - describes what you must be able to do to be certificated under Part 107.
Descibes North Carolina's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program, including state regulations for recreational, commercial, and governent remote pilots.
Descibes North Carolina's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program, including state regulations for recreational, commercial, and governent remote pilots.
NCDOT Study Guide provides information about regulations for commecial and government pilots. The exam is no longer required (effective December 2024).
NCDOT Study Guide provides information about regulations for commecial and government pilots. The exam is no longer required (effective December 2024).
TRUST is a federal certification process for remote pilots to fly recreationally, not commecially. It involves online training and a no-fail test (you take it until you get it right). Getting this certificate is a good first step - it covers the basics. I've used the Lake Area Technical College and UAV Coach sites - they are simple and don't require creating an account to get your certificate.
TRUST is a federal certification process for remote pilots to fly recreationally, not commecially. It involves online training and a no-fail test (you take it until you get it right). Getting this certificate is a good first step - it covers the basics. I've used the Lake Area Technical College and UAV Coach sites - they are simple and don't require creating an account to get your certificate.
Test Prep Apps
Test Prep Apps
Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA) Test Prep Apps
Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA) Test Prep Apps
Cost is $5 (as of 2023.11.15). If you purchase the ASA Remote Pilot Preparation book, the app is included in the cost.
Cost is $5 (as of 2023.11.15). If you purchase the ASA Remote Pilot Preparation book, the app is included in the cost.
Flight Simulators
Flight Simulators
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has created flight simulators for multirotor and fixed wing remote aircraft. The simulators are free for download and avalable for MacOS and Windows. This is a great way to get some practice while you're waiting to get your first drone!
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has created flight simulators for multirotor and fixed wing remote aircraft. The simulators are free for download and avalable for MacOS and Windows. This is a great way to get some practice while you're waiting to get your first drone!
Aviation Weather
Aviation Weather
NOAA Aviation Weather Center - this is the source on which almost all other aviation weather products are based.
NOAA Aviation Weather Center - this is the source on which almost all other aviation weather products are based.
Flight Service at www.1800wxbrief.com - full weather briefings, NOTAMs, TFRs. This is the official planning interface. You can use it online and you can call and speak to a briefer about your plans and they will let you know of any issues in the area you plan to fly. You need to establish a free account to use this system.
Flight Service at www.1800wxbrief.com - full weather briefings, NOTAMs, TFRs. This is the official planning interface. You can use it online and you can call and speak to a briefer about your plans and they will let you know of any issues in the area you plan to fly. You need to establish a free account to use this system.
Finally, pilot Jon Kotwicki has some great weather training on his Fly-8-Mike-Alpha website. Visit https://fly8ma.com/lessons/lesson-14-aviation-weather/
Finally, pilot Jon Kotwicki has some great weather training on his Fly-8-Mike-Alpha website. Visit https://fly8ma.com/lessons/lesson-14-aviation-weather/
Checklists
Checklists
Checklists are a mainstay of aviation. There's a checklist for almost everything, each designed to maximize safety by making sure that pilots don't forget anything. "Always use the checklist," is an aviation mantra.
Checklists are a mainstay of aviation. There's a checklist for almost everything, each designed to maximize safety by making sure that pilots don't forget anything. "Always use the checklist," is an aviation mantra.
Carefully creating your own checklists is a great way build a safetly mindset. Be aware that if an aircraft manufacturer has a checklist, you must ensure any checklist you create includes those elements.
Carefully creating your own checklists is a great way build a safetly mindset. Be aware that if an aircraft manufacturer has a checklist, you must ensure any checklist you create includes those elements.
- Flight Risk Assessment Tool (NC State U) - a pre-flight checklist to evaluate flight conditions and make a decision about whether to proceed with the flight
- Day before (Hess) - a checklist to ensure that all equipment is ready to go and that you've checked flight conditions [ Not there yet ]
- Checklist DJI Mini 2 (Hess) - a pre-, during-, and post-flight checklist for the DJI Mini 2 aircraft
- Checklist DJI Mini 3 (Hess) - a pre-, during-, and post-flight checklist for the DJI Mini 2 aircraft
- Checklist Tello (Hess) - a pre-, during-, and post-flight checklist for the DJI Mini 2 aircraft
- Emergency Procedures Checklist (Dart Drones)- a basic checklist for emergency procedures
Safety & Situational Awareness
Safety & Situational Awareness
The FAA has contracts with 4 vendors to supply situational awareness information to recreational and commercial drone pilots. The apps provide information about airspace and restrictions and indicate whether it's legal to fly. Some of them also allow you to register your flight so other drone pilots know you're out there. The latest apps also integrate with FAA's Low Altitude Authorization & Notification Capability (LAANC). Pick one, learn it, work with it.
The FAA has contracts with 4 vendors to supply situational awareness information to recreational and commercial drone pilots. The apps provide information about airspace and restrictions and indicate whether it's legal to fly. Some of them also allow you to register your flight so other drone pilots know you're out there. The latest apps also integrate with FAA's Low Altitude Authorization & Notification Capability (LAANC). Pick one, learn it, work with it.
LAANC Airspace Management - Low altitute authorization & notification capability - quickly get permission to fly in some restricted airspaces. There are currenlty (2024.02.03) 11 companies that offer this service, including all 4 that offer B4UFLY services. If you use DJI aircraft, I recommend choosing a vendor with desktop capability so that you can preapprove (as opposed to in the field) and preload your LAANC clearances through DJI's FlySafe unlocking system.
LAANC Airspace Management - Low altitute authorization & notification capability - quickly get permission to fly in some restricted airspaces. There are currenlty (2024.02.03) 11 companies that offer this service, including all 4 that offer B4UFLY services. If you use DJI aircraft, I recommend choosing a vendor with desktop capability so that you can preapprove (as opposed to in the field) and preload your LAANC clearances through DJI's FlySafe unlocking system.
FAA UAS Data Delivery Service - has a map-based view of drone-relevant information, including the location of FAA Recognized Identification Areas (where you can fly drones without remote ID).
FAA UAS Data Delivery Service - has a map-based view of drone-relevant information, including the location of FAA Recognized Identification Areas (where you can fly drones without remote ID).
DJI GeoZones - DJI use geofencing to help prevent you flying in places you shouldn't be. But this means you have to get your aircraft unlocked to fly in same places where the FAA would otherwise give you quick approval (see the LAANC section just above).
DJI GeoZones - DJI use geofencing to help prevent you flying in places you shouldn't be. But this means you have to get your aircraft unlocked to fly in same places where the FAA would otherwise give you quick approval (see the LAANC section just above).
Flight Service at www.1800wxbrief.com - full weather briefings, NOTAMs, TFRs. This is the official planning interface. You can use it online and you can call and speak to a briefer about your plans and they will let you know of any issues in the area you plan to fly. You need to establish a free account to use this system.
Flight Service at www.1800wxbrief.com - full weather briefings, NOTAMs, TFRs. This is the official planning interface. You can use it online and you can call and speak to a briefer about your plans and they will let you know of any issues in the area you plan to fly. You need to establish a free account to use this system.
Navigation & Airport Information
Navigation & Airport Information
SkyVector.com - Aeronautical charts & flight planning - shows Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and DROTAMs (Drone Notices to Air Missions). Does not show NOTAMS (Notices to Air Missions)
SkyVector.com - Aeronautical charts & flight planning - shows Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and DROTAMs (Drone Notices to Air Missions). Does not show NOTAMS (Notices to Air Missions)
FAA Aeronautical Charts - Includes links to all charts and a user guide that describes what all the elements on the charts mean
FAA Aeronautical Charts - Includes links to all charts and a user guide that describes what all the elements on the charts mean
Helpful Videos
Helpful Videos
A series of 13 videos with a focus on reading charts and decoding METARs & TAFs
A series of 13 videos with a focus on reading charts and decoding METARs & TAFs
Although this is kind of an advert for UAV Coach, the video goes through some tricky chart questions
Although this is kind of an advert for UAV Coach, the video goes through some tricky chart questions
Basic Piloting Information
Basic Piloting Information
Information about aeronautical decision making, airport operations, principles of flight, weather and weather services
Information about aeronautical decision making, airport operations, principles of flight, weather and weather services
Mostly relevant to crewed aircraft - you can find airport operations and traffic pattern information here.
Mostly relevant to crewed aircraft - you can find airport operations and traffic pattern information here.
A quick guide to haw to fly, including laws, certification, and hands-on flight. Contains two videos.
A quick guide to haw to fly, including laws, certification, and hands-on flight. Contains two videos.
Drone Laws
Drone Laws
It can be hard to find drone laws, especially when it comes to other countries, and different state and local jurisdictions in the US. The Drone Laws website contains lots of information from around the world and seems a good place to start. It was created by drone enthusiasts interested in helping remote pilots find the information they need.
It can be hard to find drone laws, especially when it comes to other countries, and different state and local jurisdictions in the US. The Drone Laws website contains lots of information from around the world and seems a good place to start. It was created by drone enthusiasts interested in helping remote pilots find the information they need.
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