Drone Advanced Exam (RPAS) Practice Test 1

All 30 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

1. When may ATC let a drone without a transponder enter transponder airspace?

   1. Whenever the drone weighs less than 25 kg in total
   2. If asked before entry and safety is not affected
   3. Only at night, when manned traffic is lighter
   4. Never, there are no exceptions to the rule

2. What is a METAR?

   1. A warning about volcanic ash in the upper atmosphere
   2. A chart of the winds and temperatures aloft over Canada
   3. A forecast of the weather for the next 30 hours
   4. A routine report of observed weather at an aerodrome

3. In Transport Canada's terms, what horizontal distance band is 'near people' for a small drone?

   1. Less than 50 m but at least 15 m
   2. Less than 5 m but at least 1 m
   3. Less than 30 m but at least 5 m
   4. Less than 100 m but at least 30 m

4. Which is a recommended post-flight action after a near-people job?

   1. Update the firmware right away from any website you find
   2. Leave the batteries in the drone to keep them warm
   3. Inspect for damage, remove batteries, log the flight
   4. Skip the logbook entry if nothing went wrong today

5. During a busy landing near people, what does good workload management involve?

   1. Cutting distractions and noticing your own overload
   2. Answering client calls now to save time later on
   3. Taking on the observer's duties to save on crew
   4. Changing the camera settings during the landing

6. In an MF area with no ground station operating, what do manned aircraft do with their reports?

   1. They send them by text to the airport
   2. They skip reporting until a station opens
   3. They broadcast them on the MF
   4. They phone them in to NAV CANADA

7. What is automation complacency?

   1. Refusing to use any automated features at all
   2. A software bug that stops waypoints from being saved
   3. A rule limiting autopilot use to basic operations
   4. Trusting the autopilot so much you stop monitoring

8. Where would you find a published RPAS procedure for a certified airport?

   1. In the PRO section of the current CFS
   2. In the manufacturer's quick-start guide for the drone
   3. In the airport's annual financial report to Ottawa
   4. On the back of your drone's registration certificate

9. Which frequency range is used for aeronautical VHF voice communications in Canada?

   1. 2.4 to 2.5 GHz
   2. 118 to 137 MHz
   3. 400 to 470 MHz
   4. 88 to 108 MHz

10. Your flight review was 14 months ago and you never applied for the certificate. What now?

    1. Apply after paying a late fee in the portal
    2. Apply anyway, since a flight review never expires
    3. Do a new flight review; it must be within 12 months
    4. Apply after first retaking the Small Basic exam

11. Your drone carries a Class 3B laser scanner. What must you do before flying?

    1. Only tell the landowner where the laser will be used
    2. Only check NOTAMs on the morning of the flight
    3. Notify TC of the proposed outdoor laser operation
    4. Nothing, since lasers on drones are always exempt

12. How do you schedule a flight review?

    1. Book it through a Transport Canada regional office
    2. Request it from NAV CANADA through the NAV Drone app
    3. Ask any advanced pilot you know to sign you off on it
    4. Contact a drone flight school that has flight reviewers

13. Your declared drone is rated for winds up to 30 km/h, but gusts reach 45 km/h. What applies?

    1. It is outside its declared capabilities and unsafe to fly
    2. Only basic rules apply, so the wind limit can be ignored
    3. The declaration lets you exceed limits when near people
    4. You may fly if you lower your altitude to 100 ft or less

14. Why should you program the return-to-home altitude carefully for a sheltered operation?

    1. Buildings can block the link; a low RTH could hit them
    2. Sheltered flights never lose the C2 link near buildings
    3. A high RTH altitude always breaks the 400 ft limit
    4. Return-to-home is banned within 200 ft of any structure

15. How long a flight must the candidate plan for the flight review?

    1. At least 60 minutes, with three take-offs and three landings
    2. At least 2 hours, covering a route of 10 NM or more
    3. Exactly 5 minutes, hovering in one spot near the reviewer
    4. At least 15 minutes, with one take-off and one full-stop landing

16. In the fly-away exercise, which action is the candidate expected to take without delay?

    1. Walk back to the take-off point and wait for its return
    2. Delete the flight log to free up memory on the device
    3. Record the drone's last direction and altitude seen
    4. Switch the controller off and on to reset the radio link

17. Pilots flying in uncontrolled airspace away from aerodromes usually monitor which frequency?

    1. 126.7 MHz
    2. 121.5 MHz only
    3. 123.2 MHz
    4. 118.0 MHz

18. Which item belongs in a crew briefing for a near-people operation?

    1. Escape manoeuvres and handling public interference
    2. The pilot's flight hours logged in other countries
    3. The make and model of every vehicle in the parking lot
    4. The client's invoice, deposit and payment terms

19. What is the minimum age for a Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations?

    1. 21 years
    2. 14 years
    3. 16 years
    4. 18 years

20. Can an advanced pilot fly above 400 ft AGL in controlled airspace without an SFOC?

    1. Yes, but only within 100 ft of a structure
    2. No, controlled airspace is limited to 300 ft
    3. No, any flight above 400 ft always needs an SFOC
    4. Yes, if the ANSP authorization allows that altitude

21. What does the generic procedure recommend you monitor while flying near an aerodrome?

    1. The drone manufacturer's social media page
    2. The airport's public Wi-Fi network for announcements
    3. The local commercial radio station for traffic news
    4. The aerodrome traffic frequency listed in the CFS or VNC

22. Is a visual observer required for a sheltered operation?

    1. Yes, an observer holding an advanced certificate
    2. No, but people not involved must stay 100 ft away
    3. Yes, one observer for each side of the structure
    4. No, and there is no distance rule for people

23. What must aircraft operating inside a Mandatory Frequency (MF) area have?

    1. An instrument flight rating for the pilot
    2. A transponder set to code 7600
    3. A working radio for two-way communication
    4. A flight plan filed in advance with ATC

24. Before an operation with visual observers, what should the crew agree on?

    1. Which observer gets the best view of the main shot
    2. Who will post the photos and video online afterward
    3. Consistent communication language for the mission
    4. How much each observer will be paid for each flight

25. What must accompany a medium- or high-complexity SFOC—RPAS application?

    1. A letter of support signed by the local mayor
    2. An RPAS operational risk assessment with its SAIL
    3. A copy of the chief pilot's university transcript
    4. A video of a previous flight recorded at the site

26. What distance from people does TC suggest as best practice for a tethered drone?

    1. Half the tether's length
    2. The tether length minus 5 m
    3. The tether length plus at least 5 m
    4. Exactly 30 m in every case

27. Which conditions produce high density altitude and poorer drone performance?

    1. Any day with a high altimeter setting
    2. Hot, humid air at a high-elevation site
    3. Cold, dry air at sea level in winter
    4. Cool air on a calm, overcast morning

28. What defines an extended visual line-of-sight (EVLOS) operation?

    1. The pilot uses binoculars to keep a distant drone in sight
    2. The drone flies only at night, with bright position lights
    3. The drone is out of sight, but a VO watches the airspace
    4. The pilot watches the drone through an FPV headset only

29. A medium drone will fly 60 m from bystanders. What type of declaration is required?

    1. A self-declaration to 922.05 only
    2. A pre-validated declaration (PVD) to 922.07
    3. A 922.04 declaration only
    4. None, if the pilot holds an advanced certificate

30. What score is needed to pass the online Advanced exam?

    1. 80%
    2. 70%
    3. 90%
    4. 65%