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FAA Part 107 Weather Study Guide

May 23, 2025

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Study Guide 2025

Overview

  • Purpose: Equip viewers with knowledge to pass the FAA Part 107 exam and legally use drone footage in the U.S.
  • Topics Covered: Weather conditions, cloud formations, wind conditions, thunderstorms, stable vs. unstable air, and weather forecasting.

Importance of Weather in Aviation

  • Weather is critical for aviation safety, especially for drone pilots.
  • The FAA expects pilots to understand weather conditions and their impact on flight operations.
  • Test Focus: More questions on weather than any other topic.

Cloud Formation and Regulations

  • Distance from Clouds: Must maintain 500 ft below and 2000 ft horizontally from clouds.
  • Pilot Responsibility: Remote pilot in command is responsible for adhering to these rules.

Understanding Weather and Its Causes

  • The sun heats the Earth unevenly due to different terrains, leading to upward air currents (updrafts).
  • Primary Cause of Weather Changes: Variation in solar heating received on Earth's surface.
  • Thermals: Upward currents of warm air causing turbulence.

Wind and Its Effects

  • Wind Cause: Uneven heating of Earth's surface.
  • Factors: Global winds, wind shear, and its dangers.
  • Drone Operations:
    • Can lose control and face battery reduction due to strong winds.
    • Wind shear can occur at any altitude, more hazardous at lower altitudes.

Cloud Classifications

  • Low-Level Clouds (0-6,500 ft AGL):
    • Stratus Clouds: Gray, like fog; bring light rain and poor visibility.
    • Cumulus Clouds: Puffy, white; indicate fair weather but can develop into storms.
  • Drone Impact: Stratus clouds reduce visibility; cumulus clouds generally harmless unless developing into thunderstorms.

Thunderstorm Stages

  • Cumulus Stage: Warm air rising, no rain yet.
  • Mature Stage: Fully developed storm with rain, lightning, downdrafts.
  • Dissipating Stage: Losing energy as warm air source is cut off, storms weaken.

Density Altitude

  • Definition: Altitude at which air feels like a certain density level.
  • Factors: Temperature, altitude, and humidity affect air density.
  • Impact on Drones: Lower density altitude (cool, dry air, low altitude) improves performance.

Stable vs. Unstable Air

  • Stable Air: Calm, smooth, poor visibility due to haze/fog.
  • Unstable Air: Turbulent, good visibility, associated with cumulus clouds and thunderstorms.
  • Flight Considerations: Stable air is safer; unstable air may violate FAA regulations due to visibility and safety concerns.

Fog and Dew Point

  • Dew Point: Temperature at which air becomes fully saturated, leading to fog.
  • Fog Formation: Condensed moisture in the air, reduces visibility significantly.
  • Impact on Flights: Requires at least 3 miles of visibility.

Additional Considerations

  • Meteorological Reports: Will be covered in future tutorials.

Conclusion

  • This guide is part of a series, with more tutorials to follow on weather reports like METAR and TAF.
  • Encouragement to like and subscribe for further updates and learning.

Note: All these concepts are crucial for the FAA Part 107 exam and practical drone operations.

Full transcript