Where to fly
Study Guide for Canadian Basic RPAS Exam + How I Passed
By James MacCarthy
The fact that you are required to get a pilot license to operate drones in Canada might bothersome and I was too at first. However, as I started studying for the basic RPAS exam, my thoughts on the pilot license changed. It does cover some important knowledge about flying your drones safe and operating legally in Canada. On top of that, it took me barely 5-7 hours to study and was not too difficult to pass after that.
Here, I will discuss recommended study material, exam coverage, as well as my tips for studying & passing the exam. I will be keeping this guide updated so feel free to come back to check. Let’s get started!
My tips for Small Basic Operation Exam
Preparing
- Read through this guide & RPA section of TC AIM (mentioned below)
- Do read through ALL topics covered in Section 1 as nearly half of the questions on the exam are from Section 1.
- Skim through other study materials mentioned in the section below
Passing the exam
- This is an open book exam: Have all study materials ready and be able to search (use CTRL-F)
- Utilize Google Search as much as possible. Most of the answers can be found using Google
- You are allowed to go back and forth between the questions. Answer what you know first then do the rest.
Study Materials
- Canadian Aviation Regulations
- PDF: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/SOR-96-433.pdf (Searchable)
- Web: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-96-433/index.html
Very Important! This document covers most of Section 01: Air Law, Air Traffic Rules and Procedures
- Federal Aviation Administration’s Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
- Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM) (TP 14371)
- Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Directive by the Government of Alberta This document covers essential flight operation topics (Section 5) as well as some of Air Law and Procedures (Section 1) and weather (Section 04).
- Google Search!!!!!!!!!
Exam Coverage— Small Basic Operation
There are 8 sections to study for in both Basic/Advanced exam. In this guide, I only wrote topics that will be covered by a basic RPAS exam. Here is an order of importance to help you study more efficiently (most important to least important):
- Section 01: Air Law, Air Traffic Rules and Procedures
- Section 06: Flight Operation
- Section 08: Radiotelephony
- Section 05 Navigation
- All other sections
Let’s go over what topics are covered in a basic RPAS exam. Important topics are bolded.
Recommended Drones (250g or less)
Section 1: Air Law, Air Traffic Rules, and Procedures
Section 1 is the most important area to study for a small basic operation license. 40% of questions on the exam are from Section 1. This section covers basic aviation terminology to regulations for flying your remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS; ie. drone).
AERONAUTICS ACT
- The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to define aerodrome, airport, and pilot-in-command.
Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARS): Part I — General Provisions
101—INTERPRETATION
Topics covered: 101.01 Interpretation (definitions)
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Define common terms used in the Canadian Aviation Regulations, such as day, night, VFR.
- State the definition of remotely piloted aircraft.
- State the definition of small remotely piloted aircraft.
- Define remotely piloted aircraft system.
102—APPLICATION
Topics covered: 102.01 Application
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to state that the regulations do not apply to indoor or underground operations.
103—ADMINISTRATION AND COMPLIANCE
Topics covered: 103.02 Inspection of aircraft, requests for production of documents, and prohibitions
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- State who may demand to inspect aviation documents.
- State that computer-stored records may be used in place of paper records if measures are taken to protect them.
CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATIONS (CARS): PART VI—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES
601—AIRSPACE
AIRCRAFT OPERATING RESTRICTIONS AND HAZARDS TO AVIATION SAFETY
Topics covered: 601.14 Interpretation ~ 601.22 Requirement for pilot-in-command (excluding 601.16, 601.18, 601.19)
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Recall the restrictions to operations in the vicinity of forest fire areas.
- Describe the circumstances when a small RPAS is permitted to be operated in the vicinity of a forest fire.
- Describe the process required to legally use a LIDAR (light detection and ranging) on a small RPA.
606—MISCELLANEOUS
Topics covered: 606.01 Munitions of war
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to recall that weapons may not be carried on RPAS unless authorized.
CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATIONS (CARS): PART IX REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
DIVISION I GENERAL PROVISIONS
Topics covered: 900.01 Interpretation, 900.02 Application
The small RPAS pilot operating within a visual line of sight must be able to define common terms used in RPAS operations such as command and control link, payload, visual observer.
DIVISION II GENERAL PROHIBITION
Topics covered: 900.06 Reckless or negligent operation
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to recall the prohibition against endangering aviation safety or the safety of any person.
CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATIONS (CARS): SUBPART 1 SMALL REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT
DIVISION I GENERAL PROVISIONS
Topics covered: 901.01 Application
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to state that Remotely Piloted Aircraft having a maximum takeoff weight (MTW) less than 250 g are not subject to the rules in Part IX Subpart 1 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
DIVISION II REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION
Topics covered: 901.02 Registration of remotely piloted aircraft ~ 901.09 Access to certificate of registration
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Recall that all small RPA is required to display the registration number.
- Recall that the pilot must have easy access to the certificate of registration when operating a registered small RPA.
DIVISION III GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES
Topics covered: 901.11 Visual line-of-sight ~ 901.49 Incidents and accidents—associated measures
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Recall that small RPA shall give way to manned aircraft at all times.
- Recall the rules regarding the use of visual observers.
- State what aeronautical information must be consulted before the flight.
- State that RPAS operations must remain in Canadian domestic airspace.
- Recall the requirement to notify air traffic control if a flyaway is likely to enter controlled airspace.
- State which procedures must be established for normal and emergency operations for all small RPA operations
- State the minimum distance that an RPA must remain from a person.
- State the minimum visibility required for the operation of an RPA.
- State the minimum distance that a small RPA must remain from an aerodrome and from a heliport.
- Recall that a small RPA may not be operated at or near an aerodrome in a manner that could interfere with aircraft operating in the established traffic pattern
- State the minimum distance that a small RPA must remain from an airport and from a heliport when not operating under the Advanced Operations rules.
- Describe the factors that must be included in a “site survey” for the operations of all small RPA operations.
- State the requirements for lighting when operating a small RPA at night.
DIVISION IV BASIC OPERATIONS
Topics covered: 901.53 Application ~ 901.59 Retaking of an examination or a flight review
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- State the requirements to hold a pilot certificate– SRPA (VLOS)–basic operations.
- State what is required to operate a small RPAS in Basic operations
- Recall the 24-month recency requirements for holders of pilot certificates-SRPA (VLOS).
DIVISION V ADVANCED OPERATIONS
Topics covered: 901.62 Application ~ 901.73 Operations at or in the vicinity of an airport or a heliport–established procedure
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- State the requirements to hold a pilot certificate– SRPAS (VLOS)–advanced operations.
- State what is required to operate a small RPA in advanced operations
- Recall the 24-month recency requirements for holders of pilot certificates-SRPA (VLOS).
- State the conditions under which it is permissible to operate a small remotely piloted aircraft at a lateral distance of fewer than 100 feet from another person.
- State the information that must be given to air traffic services when requesting flight in controlled airspace
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD OF CANADA (TSB)—(REFER TO TC AIM-GEN 3.0)
Topics covered: Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB)—(refer to TC AIM-GEN 3.0)
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- State that the purpose of accident investigation is to prevent a recurrence.
- State the types of accidents that must be reported to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES AND PROCEDURES
Topics covered: Flight service stations, flight information centers
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Determine who provides coordination or air traffic control service for the airspace being used (if applicable).
- Determine the aeronautical radio frequencies in use for this airspace.
- Recognize clearances and instructions directed to other aircraft.
Once you covered all materials mentioned in Section 1, you would be around halfway into studying for the basic pilot exam.
Section 2: RPAS Airframes, Power plants, Propulsion, and Systems
This section covers only 2 out of 35 questions in a basic RPAS exam. While there seems to be many to cover for this section, Google search and basic understanding of what’s covered should be able to get you through this section.
Airframes
Topics covered: Handling/care/securing
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Indicate how manufacturers identify the repairs and work that can be undertaken by the operator vs. what must be addressed by an authorized repair facility (e.g. how to find your applicable original equipment manufacturer guidelines).
- Describe the importance of identifying propeller/rotor damage, surface contamination, wiring damage, structural damage.
- Identify the parts of an airframe.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Topics covered: Typical electrical system components (motors, electronic speed controllers, batteries, etc.), Servo motors, Importance of component integrity/maintenance
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe typical electrical system components.
- Describe the actions of a servo.
- Describe the indications of a failed servo.
- Explain the importance of keeping components dry.
REDUNDANCIES AND CRITICAL ITEMS
Topics covered: Risks of flying with inoperative systems
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to state the value of redundancy in operating scenarios.
GROUND CONTROL STATION
Topics covered: Orientation, Software version control, Flight simulation
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to state the importance of pilot and antenna orientations.
DATA LINKS
Topics covered: Frequency bands (licensed and unlicensed), Line-of-sight, Antennae and tracking systems, Interference, Gain, signal to noise ratio
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe how to assess the RF environment or conduct and RF sweep.
- Discuss the importance of radio line-of-sight.
- Discuss the importance of GCS antenna placement.
- Discuss the causes of lost link and methods of recovery.
BATTERIES
Topics covered: Types and hazards, Battery parameters (Ah, voltage, charge and discharge rates (“C”), Battery configurations (parallel, series), Charge cycles, storage, and maintenance, Discharge curves, Transportation of batteries (Dangerous Goods Regulations)
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Interpret maintenance log history.
- Describe the variables affecting batteries (capacity e.g. due to age, history, charge status).
- Assess battery voltages (understand discharge curves).
- Describe the regulations applicable to taking lithium-ion batteries onboard a commercial flight.
- Describe the dangers of using water on lithium battery fires.
AUTOPILOTS
Topics covered: The role of an autopilot, Different levels of control (e.g. stabilization vs. waypoint), Flight termination systems (internal and remote), Software version control (sRPAS)
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe the types of pilot intervention possible during the flight.
- Describe the pre-flight preparation related to flight termination systems.
- Discuss the possible consequences of improper software version control.
- Describe the importance of updating verified firmware only from the OEM website.
PAYLOADS
Topics covered: Sensor types (electro-optical, infra-red, radio frequency, atmospheric, etc.)
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to define what comprises the payload vs. the rest of the system.
ELECTRIC MOTORS (PROPULSION)
Topics covered: Types of motors (brush, brushless, inrunner, outrunner), Speed controllers
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to describe the characteristics of different motor types.
LAUNCH AND RECOVERY SYSTEMS
Topics covered: Types of launchers, Types of recovery systems–parachute, deep stall, arresting system/hook, normal landing, Safety areas, and templates for launch and recovery
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Identify the different danger areas of a safety template.
- Describe different methods of recovering an unmanned aircraft.
MAINTENANCE AND RECORD KEEPING
Topics covered: Technical log requirements, Servicing, elementary tasks, critical tasks, 2-person perform/verify practice
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- List the requirements for record-keeping.
- Give examples of tasks that should be independently verified.
MAGNETIC COMPASS
Topics covered: Principles of operation, Variation, Factors adversely affecting compass operation, Importance of calibration
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Explain the difference between magnetic and true north.
- Explain what can affect compass operation and reliability.
ALTIMETER & AIRSPEED INDICATOR
Topics covered: Principles of operation, Errors and malfunctions
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Explain the purpose of a barometric altimeter setting.
- Describe the effect of a blocked static system.
- Describe the difference between indicated and true airspeeds.
- Describe the effect of a blocked pitot system.
INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNIT (IMU)
Topics covered: Components, Errors, and malfunctions
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe what the IMU responsible for.
- Give examples of what can cause the IMU to misbehave.
Section 3: Human Factors
The human factors section covers only 2 out of 35 questions in a basic RPAS exam. Reading what human factors impact using Google will allow you to find most of the answers here.
AVIATION PHYSIOLOGY
Topics covered: Vision/visual scanning techniques
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe good scanning techniques (visual, audio) for visual observers (conflicting aircraft).
- Describe “perspective illusion” when looking at distant aircraft.
- Describe factors that affect alertness.
THE PILOT AND THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
Topics covered: Principles of operation, Errors, and malfunctions
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe the effects of a hangover on pilot performance.
- Describe the effects of exposure to cold and excessive heat on pilot performance.
- Describe the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
AVIATION PSYCHOLOGY
Topics covered: Principles of operation, Errors, and malfunctions
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- List factors that interfere with effective decision-making.
- List the factors that affect situational awareness.
- Describe how a given operational risk might be managed.
PILOT—EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS RELATIONSHIP
Topics covered: Principles of operation, Errors, and malfunctions
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Explain the benefits of standard operating procedures and lessons learned.
- Explain how to manage an interruption to a checklist.
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
Topics covered: Principles of operation, Errors, and malfunctions
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Resolve differences peacefully.
- Promote open communications.
- Place safety requirements over hierarchy/position in organization/politics.
SECTION 4: METEOROLOGY
This section covers 2 out of 35 questions in a basic RPAS exam. While many topics in this section are for the advanced pilot exam, topics like clouds, fogs, wind, aircraft icing, etc. do show up in the exam.
THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE
Topics covered: Density and pressure
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to describe the chemical composition of the atmosphere.
CLOUDS
Topics covered: Types applicable to low-level flying and Recognition, Associated precipitation and turbulence
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Identify cloud types and their impact on flying operations.
- Discuss the significance of observed vertical cloud development.
SURFACE BASED LAYERS
Topics covered: Fog formation, Haze/smoke, Blowing obstruction to vision
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Explain how fog is formed.
- Identify the elements that can dissipate the fog.
TURBULENCE
Topics covered: Convection, Mechanical, Orographic, Wind shear
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Explain the sources of mechanical turbulence.
- Describe the formation of turbulence around large objects and mountain tops.
- Identify sources of micro-climate turbulence and wind shear.
WIND
Topics covered: Pressure gradient, Low-level winds—variation in the surface wind, Friction, Diurnal effects, Land/sea breezes, Katabatic/anabatic effects, Topographical effects
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Explain the effect of pressure gradient on the horizontal movement of air.
- Explain how the wind changes in the friction layer due to surface heating.
- Define wind shear and its effect on turbulence.
- Explain the formation of land/sea breezes.
- Use a picture to explain anabatic and katabatic winds.
AIRCRAFT ICING
Topics covered: Formation, In-flight—freezing rain, Hoar frost, Effect of frost and ice on launch and recovery systems
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Explain how icing is formed and the conditions that cause it.
- Recognize weather conditions that can cause surface contamination.
- Describe the components of an RPAS that are susceptible to icing.
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO PILOTS
Topics covered: Aviation weather web site, Non-aviation sources
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Identify the sources for local weather information.
- Describe the differences in the cloud base and wind forecasts between aviation and non-aviation sources.
Section 5: Navigation
The navigation section covers 4 out of 35 questions in a basic RPAS exam. Understanding of longitude & latitude, NOTAM, as well as radio theory is crucial in this section.
DEFINITIONS
Topics covered: Longitude, Latitude
MAPS AND CHARTS
Topics covered: Aeronautical charts (VNC, VTA), Topographical symbols, Elevation and contours (relief), Aeronautical information, Scale and units of measurement, Locating position by latitude and longitude, Canada Flight Supplement (CFS)
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Locate your position on an aeronautical chart.
- Interpret topographical information from charts.
- Determine your distance from the nearest aerodrome.
- Identify a control zone on an aeronautical chart.
- Determine the validity/currency of aeronautical charts.
- Use the CFS or other approved publications to identify airport operators and air traffic control agencies.
TIME AND LONGITUDE
Topics covered: 24 Hour system, Conversion of Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) to local and vice versa, Sunrise and sunset
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Convert UTC to local time and vice versa.
- Determine local time of sunrise/sunset.
PILOT NAVIGATION
Topics covered: Use of aeronautical charts
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe location and activities referring to appropriate aeronautical charts and aeronautical reference points.
FLIGHT PLANNING
Topics covered: Factors affecting the choice of flying area, NOTAM, Use of Canada Flight Supplement (CFS), Fuel/energy requirements, Weight and balance, Documents to be available at the ground control station, Aircraft serviceability, configuration, Effect of wind on the range and endurance
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe the factors that will influence your choice of flying area (restricted airspace, property lines, requirement for an SFOC, etc.).
- State where to obtain NOTAMs.
- Obtain NOTAMs, and interpret them.
- Demonstrate how to use the CFS to determine the type and radius of airspace, frequencies, aerodrome operator contact information, nearest FIC / ATS unit for emergency contact, etc.
- Determine the contact information for Emergency Services and local authorities.
- List the documents that must be available at the ground control station.
- Determine the serviceability of
- Aircraft
- Control station
- Radiofrequency (RF) equipment
- Launch and recovery equipment
- Software loads and versions
- Correct databases (e.g. maps) loaded
- Batteries (capacity (i.e. due to age) history, charge status, demand due to weight)
- Demonstrate how to verify the flight plan data file is correct and complete in the autopilot.
RADIO THEORY
Topics covered: Characteristics of low/high and very and ultra-high-frequency radio waves, Frequency bands used in navigation and communication, Operational limitations, propagation, causes of interference
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Explain the characteristics of radio wave propagation.
- Describe the factors that affect the radio reception range.
- Identify sources of RF interference.
- Describe how to assess an RF environment.
- Explain the function of the RF spectrum analyzer.
SECTION 6: FLIGHT OPERATIONS
This section covers 5 out of 35 questions in a basic RPAS exam. As the second most number of questions are from this section, it is more important to look through the materials covered.
GENERAL
Topics covered: Pilot-in-command responsibilities, Aircraft defects, Winter operations, Thunderstorm avoidance, Wildlife hazards, Wildlife conservation, Collision avoidance–use of lights, Radio/electronic interference, portable electronic devices
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe the hazards that can occur in different geographic or topographical areas.
- Explain how local and portable devices might be controlled to reduce interference.
AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE
Topics covered: Effects of density altitude and humidity, Bank/speed vs rate/radius of turn, Use of aircraft flight manual
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe the effect of density altitude on launch and climb performance.
- Describe the effect of airspeed on radius of turn.
- Determine operating limitations from the aircraft flight manual.
PERFORMANCE CHARTS/DATA
Topics covered: Factors affecting launcher performance (e.g. ice, temperature), Cross-wind limits, Factors affecting performance (battery, wind, speeds, climb power, etc.), Hover ceiling, maximum altitude
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe the effect of temperature on elasticized cord launchers, pneumatic launchers or hydraulic launchers.
- Identify cross-wind limits.
- Using aircraft performance data, determine the maximum altitude at which the rotorcraft can hover.
WEIGHT AND BALANCE
Topics covered: Locating centre of gravity (C of G), Weights–e.g. empty/gross, External loads–effect on performance and stability
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe methods of determining C of G.
- Describe how to return a C of G to within limits.
AIRCRAFT CRITICAL SURFACE CONTAMINATION
Topics covered: Effects of aircraft critical surface contamination on performance, Types of contaminants (e.g. water, frost, snow, condensation, tape, etc.)
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to describe the effects of surface contamination on airfoils.
RPAS OPERATIONS (VLOS)
Topics covered: Land owner authorizations, Coordination with public safety (municipality), Charging areas, Site control, safety perimeter, Launch points, recovery points, Obstacles, Emergency procedures, Defining roles and responsibilities, Communications, Post flight actions (download data, safety actions, etc.)
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Identify typical functional areas in a VLOS site (e.g. launch, observer).
- Identify desirable characteristics of alternate recovery areas.
- Identify the requirements of visual observer locations.
- Identify and evaluate access routes for both normal and emergency operations.
- Assess public access and determine crowd control requirements.
- List typical emergency contacts appropriate to flying site (flyaways, EMS etc.).
- List the safety equipment necessary for the operation (fire extinguisher, first aid, etc.).
- List the typical items in a crew briefing.
- Describe emergency procedures (e.g. airspace conflicts, system faults, lost link, public interference).
- List the typical items in a crew briefing. (roles, objective and plan, timeline, performance limitations, emergency procedures, airspace conflicts and escape manoeuvres, flyaways, public interference, recovery area, interface with the client and public, site manager, safe areas, expectations of what they will observe, electro-magnetic interference, “clean cockpit” (no interference of distractions)).
- Communicate vital actions (countdown and launch command, emergency abort, transfer of control, air traffic contacts, progress, and expected manoeuvres).
- List recommended post-flight actions (download data, check for damage, clean and dry as needed, remove batteries, record information into logs, disassemble and pack per system manual, etc.).
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
Topics covered: Charging areas, Launch points, recovery points, Obstacles, Emergency procedures, Responsibilities, Communications, Post-flight actions
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- List the safety equipment necessary for the operation (fire extinguishers, first aid kit, etc.).
- Assess weather threats vs ground station operations.
- Identify and evaluate access routes.
- Assess public access and determine crowd control requirements.
- List typical emergency contacts appropriate to the flying site (flyaways, EMS, etc.)
- Identify legal site access issues (trespass, insurance, permissions, safety training).
- List typical personal safety equipment.
- Describe the hazards of launchers and recovery systems.
Section 7: Theory of Flight
The theory of flight section covers 2 of 35 questions in a basic RPAS exam. Google search and basic understanding of Lift and Bernoulli’s principles in aviation should be able to get you through this section.
PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT
Topics covered: Bernoulli’s principle, Newton’s laws
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to describe how lift is produced.
AIRCRAFT PARTS AND COMPONENTS
Topics covered: Fixed-wing, Multi-rotor aircraft, Helicopter components
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Explain the function of the vertical fin.
- Identify basic components including lifting and stabilizing components.
FORCES ACTING ON AN AIRCRAFT
Topics covered: Lift, Drag–induced/parasite, Thrust, Weight, Equilibrium
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Identify the 4 forces acting on an aircraft in flight.
- Describe how the 4 forces are balanced during maneuvers and steady flight.
STABILITY
Topics covered: Longitudinal, lateral, directional stability, Inherent stability, Methods of achieving stability, the effect of C of G position
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to explain how the center of gravity affects longitudinal stability.
AEROFOILS
Topics covered: Relative airflow and angle of attack, Relationship of lift and drag to the angle of attack, Aerodynamic stall
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to explain how lift is controlled.
PROPELLERS AND ROTORS
Topics covered: Handling and care
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to describe how the condition of the prop/rotor affects performance.
DESIGN OF THE WING
Topics covered: Wing planform, Spoilers, Flaps
The small RPAS pilot operating within the visual line of sight must be able to describe how the design of the wing affects performance.
AEROPLANE FLIGHT CONTROLS
Topics covered: Aeroplane axes and planes of movement, Control surfaces, Trim
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe the function of different control surfaces.
- Explain the function of trim.
HELICOPTER FLIGHT CONTROLS
Topics covered: Cyclic, Collective, Tail rotor
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe how lift is created with a rotary-wing (powered and autorotation).
- Describe how lift is controlled.
- Describe the function of the tail rotor, counter-rotating rotors.
MULTI-ROTOR AIRCRAFT DYNAMICS
Topics covered: Principles of Flight and Torque, Pilot flight controls, Settling with power, Recirculation, Dynamic rollover
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe how yaw, pitch, roll, and climb are achieved in a multi-rotor aircraft.
- Describe how to avoid dynamic rollover in a cross-wind.
- Describe typical multi-rotor autopilot modes (manual, attitude, GPS Position hold).
- Describe how asymmetric recirculation can upset lateral control of a rotorcraft.
LOAD FACTOR
Topics covered: Load factor–turns, Gust loads, turbulence, Structural/power limitations
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Describe what can affect the load factor on an aircraft.
- Recall that increasing the load factor produces a requirement for increased lift, thus producing increased drag.
Section 8: Radiotelephony
While the Radiotelephony section does not seem to have much to cover, 4 of 35 questions in a basic RPAS exam are from this section. It’s a good idea to look into radiotelephony terms & what affects reception performance (like signal interference).
GROUND CREWMEMBER RADIOS
Topics covered: Terminology, Reception performance
The small RPAS pilot operating within visual line of sight must be able to:
- Give an example of an advisory describing a possible aircraft conflict.
- Describe factors affecting the radio reception range.
- Describe the verbal communication elements in a positive transfer of control or visual following.
Source: Transport Canada Website
Good Luck!
Good luck with your exam. While this article only goes over what is covered in the exam, a more in-depth guide will be posted on this website going over each section in greater detail. Meanwhile, feel free to subscribe to our newsletter for updates!