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Topic 5 of 5

Loading and performance

Weight, balance, load factor and how air density affects performance.
24 practice questions

Last reviewed

This topic is about how what you carry, and the air you fly in, change what your drone can do. It's a small share of the test, but the ideas are quick to learn.

Weight

Follow the manufacturer's weight and balance limits. Even at or below the maximum takeoff weight, hot, high or humid conditions (high density altitude) may mean you need to carry less (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 29). Extra weight makes the aircraft fly at a higher angle of attack, adds drag and leaves less spare thrust for climbing (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 22).

Balance

The center of gravity (CG) isn't a fixed point: it depends on how the weight is spread out, and it moves when a load shifts or is dropped. If the CG is outside the allowed limits, move or remove weight before you fly (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 29). Flying with the CG outside the approved limits makes the aircraft hard to control (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 32).

Part 107 also requires you to make sure anything attached to or carried by the drone is secure and doesn't harm its flight characteristics or controllability (14 CFR 107.49).

Load factor

Load factor is the extra stress on the aircraft when it turns or pulls up, measured in Gs. A load factor of 3 means the structure carries three times the aircraft's weight (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 30). In a level turn at a 60 degree bank, the load factor is 2 Gs, and it climbs very quickly beyond about 45 to 50 degrees (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 31).

Stall speed rises with the square root of the load factor, so an aircraft can stall at a speed that seems safe during a steep turn or sudden pull-up (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 31).

Air density

As air density decreases (higher density altitude), performance decreases. Higher temperature and higher humidity both make the air less dense (FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide, p. 21-22).

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Practice questions

Pick an answer to see whether it's right, with the explanation and FAA source.

Beta: these questions haven't been reviewed by a certified remote pilot yet. Spot a mistake? Report it.

Questions 1-10 of 24

  1. Question 1 of 24

    Before a flight, Part 107 requires the remote pilot in command to check any object attached to or carried by the small unmanned aircraft. What must be ensured?

  2. Question 2 of 24

    Weight and balance planning centers on the aircraft's center of gravity (CG). What is the CG?

  3. Question 3 of 24

    After mounting a new camera, you find the center of gravity is outside the manufacturer's allowable limits. What should you do before flying?

  4. Question 4 of 24

    According to FAA guidance, what is the main result of flying with the center of gravity outside the approved limits?

  5. Question 5 of 24

    You plan to launch at the manufacturer's maximum takeoff weight from a high-elevation site on a hot, humid afternoon. What does FAA guidance suggest?

  6. Question 6 of 24

    A fixed-wing small unmanned aircraft makes a coordinated turn at a 60-degree bank while holding its altitude. What load factor does it experience?

  7. Question 7 of 24

    During a tight maneuver, a fixed-wing small unmanned aircraft is under a load factor of 3, or 3 Gs. What does that mean?

  8. Question 8 of 24

    Which of these is a performance effect you should expect when an aircraft is loaded above its maximum weight?

  9. Question 9 of 24

    If an aircraft has not been loaded properly, when does the first sign of poor performance usually appear?

  10. Question 10 of 24

    Your small unmanned aircraft will release a carried load partway through the flight. What should you plan for once the load is gone?

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