LocoFly 34-40

You are hired to photograph a home 3 miles northeast of FT Worth Meacham Intl (FTW). Do you need to request ATC permission to fly?

• No, because you're in Class G airspace. 

• Yes, because you're in Class D airspace. 

• Yes, because you're in Class B airspace.

• No, Because you're in Class E airspace.

Answer explanation

If you look 3 miles northeast of the airport, you’re still inside the blue dotted lines, which indicate Class D airspace starting at the surface. So if you’re photographing a home, you’d be operating in controlled airspace and would need to get prior authorization to fly.

The Class D airspace overlying McKinney (TKI) is controlled from the surface to

• 700 feet AGL

• 2,500 feet MSL 

• 2,900 feet MSL

• 2,500 feet AGL

Answer explanation

This is one of the most complicated Sectional Chart excerpts you’ll encounter. It’s crowded and difficult to interpret. Take your time to first identify where McKinney (TKI) airport is located.

You’ll notice the blue dotted lines around the airport. This indicates class D airspace, and the [29] indicates that the airspace goes up 2,900 ft. MSL.

You've been asked to inspect the tower 4 to 5 statute miles northwest of Cooperstown airport (S32). How high must the cloud base be for you to be able to fly the maximum allowable height over the tower?

• 650 ft. AGL 

• 700 ft. AGL 

• 1,150 ft. AGL

• 1425 ft. AGL

Answer explanation

This is a complex question! First, let’s address what the “maximum allowable height over the tower” means. While the Part 107 regulations state a maximum altitude of 400 ft. AGL, you’re allowed to fly higher than that as long as you’re within 400 ft. of a tower / obstruction. You’re even allowed to fly up to 400 ft. over the topmost part of that tower. In this case, the tower 4 to 5 statute miles northwest of Cooperstown airport (S32) is 250 ft. AGL. If you’re flying “as high as allowed under Part 107,” you’d be flying 250 ft. AGL + 400 ft., or 650 ft. AGL.

So if you’re flying at 650 ft. AGL, how high must the cloud base be for that flight to be possible? Remember that you need to be flying at least 500 ft. from the cloud base, so you can add 500 ft. to 650 ft. to get 1,150 ft. AGL. The cloud base needs to be at least 1,150 ft. AGL, otherwise you’d be violating the cloud clearance regulation of at least 500 ft. when flying over the top of the tower.

Where can pilots find traffic pattern information and restrictions, such as noise abatement?

• Sectional Chart

• Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)

• Chart Supplements U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility Directory)

• From the ATC Website

Answer explanation

The Chart Supplement U.S., formerly called the Airport/Facility Directory, provides the most comprehensive information on a given airport. It contains information on airports, heliports, and seaplane bases that are open to the public. It’s published across seven books, and the information in each of these books is updated every couple of months. You can access these charts digitally by using a tool like http://skyvector.com and clicking into the airport icon.

Chart Supplements are great for learning more about things like parachute drop zones or glider operations, traffic pattern information, operating hours, noise abatement, and really any other information about an airport that doesn’t fit into the nice and colorful Sectional Chart. It’s a great resource to keep when doing airspace research and flight mission planning.

For information about the parachute jumping and glider operations at MAJORS airport, refer to

• the border of the Sectional Chart

• the Charts Supplement

• the FAA's B4UFLY app

• Next to the airport on the sectional chart

Answer explanation

The Chart Supplement U.S., formerly called the Airport/Facility Directory, provides the most comprehensive information on a given airport. It contains information on airports, heliports, and seaplane bases that are open to the public. It’s published across seven books, and the information in each of these books is updated every couple of months. You can access these charts digitally by using a tool like http://skyvector.com and clicking into the airport icon.

Chart Supplements are great for learning more about things like parachute drop zones or glider operations, traffic pattern information, operating hours, noise abatement, and really any other information about an airport that doesn’t fit into the Sectional Chart. It’s a great resource to keep when doing airspace research and flight mission planning.

What’s the UNICOM frequency at Crawford airport?

• 117.1

• 122.8

• 122.9

• 118

Answer explanation

Figure 81 is a Chart Supplement, which shows more detailed information about an airport. You’ll find the UNICOM frequency in the Communications section.

Which is the correct traffic pattern departure procedure to use at a non-towered airport?

• Depart in any direction consistent with safety, after crossing the airport boundary.

• Make all turns to the left.

• Comply with any FAA traffic pattern established for the airport.

• Make all turns to the right.

Answer explanation

In a normal traffic pattern, all turns are made to the left unless otherwise specified. That said, not all airports are “normal” and sometimes other directions are specified, so this is a great example of how, as a drone pilot, you’ll always want to consult the Chart Supplement to get the most in-depth and up-to-date information about an airport, including traffic patterns.

An aircraft announces, "left downwind for runway one six". This means that the aircraft is on a heading of

• 80 degrees.

• 160 degrees.

• 340 degrees.

• 270 degrees

Answer explanation

Runway 16 is positioned toward 160 degrees, meaning that when airplanes are taking off or landing, they're doing so at a heading of 160 degrees.

In a normal left-hand traffic pattern...if a plane is midfield left downwind RWY 16, it means that the plane is flying parallel to the runway, in the opposite direction (downwind) of the runway, at a heading 180-degrees opposite of the runway.

So in this case, the plane is flying 180 degrees opposite of 160 degrees, which is 340 degrees!

An aircraft announces, "left downwind for runway two six". This means that the aircraft is on a heading of

• 80 degrees.

• 160 degrees.

• 340 degrees.

• 270 degrees.

Answer explanation

Runway 26 is positioned toward 260 degrees, meaning that when airplanes are taking off or landing, they're doing so at a heading of 260 degrees.

In a normal left-hand traffic pattern...if a plane is midfield left downwind RWY 26, it means that the plane is flying parallel to the runway, in the opposite direction (downwind) of the runway, at a heading 180-degrees opposite of the runway.

So in this case, the plane is flying 180 degrees opposite of 260 degrees, which is 80 degrees!

Which aircraft has the right-of-way over all other air traffic?

• A balloon.

• An aircraft in distress.

• An aircraft on final approach to land.

• An aircraft taking off

Answer explanation

An aircraft in distress always has the right of way over all other air traffic.