Part 107 Flashcards

FAA small UAS (sUAS) — tap card or press Space to flip · ←→ navigate · S shuffle · R random · references (eCFR, FAA, PHAK) on the back

Intensity

- Light (none) Moderate + Heavy VC Vicinity (5–10 statute miles)

Descriptors

MI Shallow PR Partial BC Patches DR Drifting BL Blowing SH Showers TS Thunderstorm FZ Freezing

Precipitation

RA Rain DZ Drizzle SN Snow SG Snow Grains IC Ice Crystals PL Ice Pellets GR Hail [grêle] GS Small Hail / Snow Pellets UP Unknown Precipitation

Obscuration

FG Fog (<⅝ SM) BR Mist [brume] (⅝–6 SM) HZ Haze FU Smoke [fumée] SA Sand DU Dust VA Volcanic Ash PY Spray

Other Phenomena

SQ Squall FC Funnel Cloud / Tornado SS Sandstorm DS Duststorm PO Dust/Sand Whirls

Sky Condition

SKC Sky Clear (manual obs) CLR Clear below 12,000 ft (automated) FEW Few clouds (1–2 oktas) SCT Scattered (3–4 oktas) BKN Broken (5–7 oktas) ★ ceiling OVC Overcast (8 oktas) ★ ceiling VV Vertical Visibility (sky obscured) CB Cumulonimbus (thunderstorm cloud) TCU Towering Cumulus (developing TS)

METAR Structure Codes

METAR Meteorological Aerodrome Report SPECI Special (unscheduled) observation AUTO Automated observation (no human) KT Knots (nautical miles/hr) SM Statute Miles G Gust VRB Variable wind direction P6SM Plus (greater than) 6 statute miles M Minus (below 0 °C) A Altimeter setting (inches Hg) RMK Remarks section AO1 Automated Observation type 1 (no precip sensor) AO2 Automated Observation type 2 (has precip sensor) SLP Sea Level Pressure (hectopascals) PRESRR Pressure Rising Rapidly PRESFR Pressure Falling Rapidly PK WND Peak Wind

TAF Codes

TAF Terminal Aerodrome Forecast AMD Amended (corrected forecast) FM From (abrupt change at time) BECMG Becoming (gradual change over period) TEMPO Temporary (fluctuation <½ period) PROB Probability (percent chance) NSW No Significant Weather

Other Reports

SIGMET Significant Meteorological Information AIRMET Airmen's Meteorological Information PIREP Pilot Report (prefix UA/UUA) NOTAM Notice to Airmen ATIS Automatic Terminal Information Service AWOS Automated Weather Observing System ASOS Automated Surface Observing System

Airspace Classes

Class	Altitude	Shape / Location	Chart Depiction	sUAS Auth?
A	18,000 ft MSL → FL600	Everywhere over US	Not shown	N/A (never fly here)
B	Surface → 10,000 ft MSL	Busiest airports (LAX, JFK, ORD). Upside-down wedding cake, multiple shelves	Solid blue, shelf fractions (e.g., 100/20)	Yes (LAANC / DroneZone). 30 NM Mode C veil
C	Surface → ~4,000 ft above airport (charted in MSL)	Busy towered airports w/ radar. Two tiers: inner 5 NM (SFC), outer 10 NM (1,200 AGL floor)	Solid magenta with altitude labels	Yes
D	Surface → ~2,500 ft above airport (charted in MSL)	Towered airports (smaller). Single cylinder ~4 NM radius. Reverts to E/G when tower closes	Dashed blue	Yes
E	Various floors → 18,000 ft MSL	Controlled airspace everywhere not A/B/C/D. VFR aircraft don't need clearance	See Class E floors below	Only at surface areas ( dashed magenta)
G	Surface → floor of Class E	Uncontrolled. Whatever is left below Class E	Not depicted	No

Class E Floors — Sectional Chart Lines

Chart Marking	Class E Starts At	Below Is	sUAS at ≤400 ft?
— no line —	1,200 ft AGL	Class G	In G — no auth needed
Fuzzy magenta	700 ft AGL	Class G	In G — no auth needed
Fuzzy blue	1,200 ft AGL (transition back up from 700)	Class G	In G — no auth needed
Dashed magenta	Surface (SFC)	No Class G	In E — AUTH REQUIRED

Special Use Airspace

Type	Chart Symbol	Can sUAS Enter?
Prohibited (P-####)	Blue hatched	No — never
Restricted (R-####)	Blue hatched	Only when inactive (check NOTAMs)
MOA	Magenta hatched	Yes — use extreme caution
Alert (A-###)	Magenta hatched	Yes — high training activity
Warning (W-###)	Blue hatched	Yes — over international waters
TFR	Not on printed chart (check NOTAMs)	No — when active
NSA	Magenta hatched	Voluntary avoidance requested

Sectional Chart Line Summary

Solid blue = Class B boundary Solid magenta = Class C boundary Dashed blue = Class D boundary Dashed magenta = Class E surface area Fuzzy magenta = Class E floor at 700 ft AGL Fuzzy blue = Class E floor at 1,200 ft AGL

AGL vs MSL on Sectional Charts

Reference	Uses AGL	Uses MSL	Why?
Class C ceiling & shelves		MSL (×100) ✓	Chart shows MSL fractions (e.g. 40/SFC). Typically ~4,000 ft above airport
Class D ceiling		MSL (×100) ✓	Shown in brackets (e.g. [25] = 2,500 MSL). Typically ~2,500 ft above airport
Class E floor (default)	1,200 ft AGL ✓		Consistent height above terrain everywhere
Class E floor (magenta)	700 ft AGL ✓		Lowered near airports for instrument approaches
Class A floor		18,000 ft MSL ✓	High altitude — terrain variation irrelevant
Airspace shelf labels (e.g. 80/40, 100/SFC)		MSL (×100) ✓	Chart fractions are always MSL hundreds
Obstacle heights	(AGL) in parentheses	MSL on top	Both shown — MSL bold, AGL in (parens)
Airport elevation		MSL ✓	Fixed reference for altimeter setting
MEF (Max Elevation Fig)		MSL ✓	Highest point in quadrant + buffer
Part 107 altitude limit	400 ft AGL ✓		Height above ground below the drone
MTR boundary	1,500 ft AGL ✓		3-digit = above, 4-digit = at/below

Rule of thumb: Low-altitude boundaries near terrain use AGL (so a 1,200 ft floor stays 1,200 ft above ground whether in Miami or Denver). High-altitude boundaries and chart labels use MSL (fixed reference regardless of terrain). Obstacles show both — the tall number is MSL, the number in parentheses is AGL.

Key Numbers for sUAS (Part 107)

400 ft Max altitude AGL 3 SM Min flight visibility 500 ft Min distance below clouds 2,000 ft Min horizontal from clouds 100 mph Max groundspeed (87 kt) 55 lbs Max takeoff weight

Part 107 flashcards

Exam complete