If you have a drone and you’re looking to make some money with it, you’ll need to take the Part 107 Certification Exam first. The part 107 is required in the United States to fly drones commercially. Now, the exam itself has a significant amount of information in it and can seem a bit daunting if you’ve never taken it before, but there are some things you can do to help you prepare. I put a video on the Gear and Light YouTube channel on this subject that I highly encourage that you watch.
Here are the five tips that have helped me pass the part 107 exam in the past:
Find Current Information
There were a lot of changes in 2021 from the FAA regarding drone regulations and the part 107. Because of this, it’s vital that you find current and updated information as you are preparing for the exam. If you go back and watch some of the really popular videos that have been up on YouTube for a year, two years, or even longer you’ll find that they have some good information, but they are also going to be lacking a lot of the questions that will be on the newest version of the exam. FAA Regulations are constantly shifting and changing, so if you want to be prepared you need to find the most current information that reflects those changes.
Put the Rules Into Practice
A great way to prepare for the part 107 is to actually get out there and use your drone. Take it out for a flight to get a feel for the limitations and requirements the FAA requires when you fly. For example, the FAA doesn’t allow drone pilots to fly over 400 feet, so it may be a good idea to take your drone up to 400 feet to get used to get a feel for that height and get used to that rule. It’s going to be much easier to remember the correct answer to a multiple choice question if you have already been out learning from experience with your drone.
Read the 14 CFR Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Guide
This may not be the most exciting read, but the information that’s in this guide is going to be on the exam. It’s written by the FAA, who also writes the exam, so this will be the most accurate-to-test information available to you. The guide is available online for free to view or download. You can access it here.
Take Practice Tests
The best way to make sure you’re not surprised when you go to take the test is by taking practice tests beforehand. The last two times I’ve taken the exam I’ve utilized an app called the 107 Pilot Study App. The app has 300 available study questions and the actual exam will test you on a smaller portion of those questions. Practice tests are one of the best ways to ensure that you understand how the exam works, how questions are worded, and what type of information you need to know. You can download the 107 Pilot Study App here.
Be Well Rested
The Part 107 exam is not easy and the FAA doesn’t make the correct answers obvious. Because of this, you need to be on top of your mental game when you go in for the test. I chose to take my last exam at 8:30am so that I would be wide awake and as aware as possible. I also made sure to go to bed early the night before so I would be ready. Do whatever works best for you to make sure that you are rested, awake, and mentally prepared for your exam.
Bonus Tip
One last tip that will help you succeed is to make sure you don’t draw out the process longer than it needs to be. Getting your test scheduled early forces you to sit down and actually learn information. Don’t draw it out. get it done.
Conclusion
I hope these simple tips help you conquer that part 107 exam so you can get out there and start earning money with your drone. If you’re interested in more drone tips and tricks, check out a few of the YouTube videos on Gear and Light.
