How to take the Initial aeronautical knowledge test?
- Thread starter timmydjr
- Start date
Download it here for free:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/pilot_handbook.pdf
Or buy it at your favorite bookstore or Amazon.
The "Course" is still being designed so no one on the outside will be able to answer this question for you as of yet.
Hi, jephoto. You are correct that most of the PHAK (the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge) does not apply to UAS and won't be covered on the test.
In the ACS (which should be your bible as you study), they list the PHAK as a reference in the different tasks, but don't say which chapters.
They do the same thing with the other textbooks the ACS says to study: Aviation Weather for Pilots, Aviation Weather Services, Risk Management Handbook. Then there are the various ACs and SAFOs. That's thousands of pages, but you don't know which ones to study since only specific parts are relevant. I honestly don't see anyone new to the world of FAA testing passing this test without using a formal course. Gold Seal has been doing this (prepping people for pilot tests) for over ten years. This test isn't going to be terribly hard, but there is a lot of material and if you don't study properly you may not like the outcome.
In the ACS (which should be your bible as you study), they list the PHAK as a reference in the different tasks, but don't say which chapters.
They do the same thing with the other textbooks the ACS says to study: Aviation Weather for Pilots, Aviation Weather Services, Risk Management Handbook. Then there are the various ACs and SAFOs. That's thousands of pages, but you don't know which ones to study since only specific parts are relevant. I honestly don't see anyone new to the world of FAA testing passing this test without using a formal course. Gold Seal has been doing this (prepping people for pilot tests) for over ten years. This test isn't going to be terribly hard, but there is a lot of material and if you don't study properly you may not like the outcome.
Better term might be "Test". The test and affiliated items are still being developed and approved. Until it's actually released it's really just a best "questimate".
Actually, the test and affiliated items/resources are already developed and ready to go. The FAA just has to wait 60 days from the final Part 107 rule to be published in the Federal Register. That's where the August 29 date comes from.
There are alot of online drone universities boasting that they guarantee to prep you appropriately to pass the test. Any value in these?
Well that's interesting. I spoke with my FAA contact yesterday (was on the phone for a different topic) and she said, "They are trying to finalize the materials right now. Just a few more tweaks here and there and we hope to have the final version approved in a week or two. Then we have to get it signed off before we can have anything official."
This came out of Charlotte NC FSDO. Makes me wonder which information is more accurate.
Ah yes I fully understand the 60 days from notification to implementation. I've been "doing this" for a few decades now.
Regardless until the materials are "released" to the public it is still a guessing game as to what will be required.
I hear you, Al. I'm sure we all hear a lot of conflicting info out there. But as far as the test goes, we do know exactly what will be required. It's outlined in minute detail in the ACS.
For the people who haven't downloaded a copy yet, here's one with all the operations areas/tasks highlighted in yellow:
http://www.uav-groundschool.com/library/uas_acs.pdf
For the people who haven't downloaded a copy yet, here's one with all the operations areas/tasks highlighted in yellow:
http://www.uav-groundschool.com/library/uas_acs.pdf
Scrubabert, interesting question about the "drone universities" that having been sprouting up in the past 3 years. Some are good, some are crap. You have to exercise caution before plopping your money down. Anyone can build a website and stick a few pdfs and YouTube videos on it and claim to be a drone groundschool. There's no barrier to entry in this field.
But among the useful ones, you have to define what you want to accomplish. There are basically four types of instruction in the drone field:
(1) Online training programs specifically for the 107 knowledge test.
(2) In-person training program for the 107 knowledge test, but promoted online
(3) Online training programs for drone-specific topics, NOT including the 107 test (the "drone universities")
(4) In-person seminars
For those in the 3rd category, and there are a LOT of them, yeah, pass their course and they'll give you a certificate. But the certificate is meaningless and carries no authorization to do anything for or to anyone.
In the 1st category, we're about to see a glut of new websites offering to help you pass the test. You have to determine if the person running the site is qualified to even understand, much less teach, the required info.
But among the useful ones, you have to define what you want to accomplish. There are basically four types of instruction in the drone field:
(1) Online training programs specifically for the 107 knowledge test.
(2) In-person training program for the 107 knowledge test, but promoted online
(3) Online training programs for drone-specific topics, NOT including the 107 test (the "drone universities")
(4) In-person seminars
For those in the 3rd category, and there are a LOT of them, yeah, pass their course and they'll give you a certificate. But the certificate is meaningless and carries no authorization to do anything for or to anyone.
In the 1st category, we're about to see a glut of new websites offering to help you pass the test. You have to determine if the person running the site is qualified to even understand, much less teach, the required info.
How about this directly from the FAA. It is geared toward those who already have a pilots license, but it is specific to UAS. Activities, Courses, Seminars & Webinars - ALC_Content - FAA - FAASTeam - FAASafety.gov
Sent from my iPad using PhantomPilots
Sent from my iPad using PhantomPilots
Hey there, BDFlyer. Yes, that is the course for Part 61 pilots. It only covers UAS-specific material since certificated pilots have already passed tests on the "aeronautical knowledge".
Non-pilots can certainly take the "course", but that alone won't come anywhere close to preparing them for the full test.
Non-pilots can certainly take the "course", but that alone won't come anywhere close to preparing them for the full test.
N017RW
Premium Pilot
Exactly, I took that 'course' over the weekend and was surprised at how much I remembered.
I have not been an active PP for about 3 decades (medical) and would have to do the entire sUAS test but it was interesting!!!
I may do it just 'because' and to have a 'certificate' again
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The tests will be administered by the testing centers, but you sign up for them on the CATS site (CATS: FAA test, Private Pilot Exam & Aviation Test). They will schedule with the local test center. They will also take your $150 test fee. In the message confirming your test schedule, they will also include several sources for study materials.Tests times are already filling up at many locations. I have mine scheduled for the very fist slot on 29 Aug. After passing the test, you will be given a code that you enter in your application on the IACRA web page (https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/Default.aspx). That's it. Really pretty simple for a government process.
