Drone Basic Exam (RPAS): Weather for drone pilots

All 14 questions in this test

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

1. What can you expect when flying between tall buildings on a windy day?

   1. Calmer air, because the buildings block all of the wind
   2. Wind that only ever blows straight down to the street
   3. Sudden gusts, direction changes and up- and downdrafts
   4. Steady wind that matches the airport report exactly

2. A report gives the wind as 270 degrees. Which way is the wind blowing?

   1. From the north toward the south
   2. From the east toward the west
   3. From the west toward the east
   4. From the south toward the north

3. What does Part IX require of the weather for a VLOS drone flight?

   1. Visibility of at least 5 statute miles at the nearest airport
   2. It must keep the drone in sight and within its limits
   3. Wind of less than 10 knots measured at the take-off point
   4. A cloud ceiling of at least 1,000 ft above the ground

4. Your drone is flying almost directly in line with the sun. What does TC advise?

   1. Stare at the drone until your eyes have adjusted
   2. Put on polarized sunglasses to cut the glare
   3. Climb higher so the drone is easier to see against the sky
   4. Look slightly to the side of the drone and the sun

5. In which unit is wind speed normally given in aviation weather reports?

   1. Miles per hour
   2. Knots
   3. Feet per minute
   4. Metres per second

6. Light fog is drifting in, but your drone has bright lights. What applies?

   1. Fly, as long as the GPS still shows a strong signal
   2. Don't fly if the fog stops you seeing the drone
   3. Fly, but only below 100 ft above the ground in fog
   4. Fly, because lights make the drone legal in any fog

7. Why do drone pilots need to pay special attention to micro climate?

   1. Micro climate only matters above 400 ft above the ground
   2. Low, short flights feel local wind and temperature shifts
   3. Micro climate affects only fixed-wing aircraft, not drones
   4. Regional forecasts already include every local wind effect

8. Which source gives official same-day aviation forecasts and reports for planning?

   1. The drone manufacturer's page in the mobile app store
   2. NAV CANADA's Collaborative Flight Planning Services
   3. A local radio station's morning weather report
   4. The Canadian Climate Normals with their 30-year averages

9. In dry air, about how much does the temperature drop as you climb 1,000 ft?

   1. About 0.5 °C
   2. It always rises with height
   3. About 10 °C
   4. About 3 °C

10. What is a microburst?

    1. A small whirlwind that lifts dust on a hot, sunny day
    2. A gentle sea breeze that starts in the late afternoon
    3. A short burst of radio static caused by a lightning strike
    4. A small, intense downdraft that spreads out at the ground

11. Icing conditions are forecast along your route. When may you fly?

    1. Only with de-icing/anti-icing gear or icing detection
    2. Any time, since small drones are too warm to collect ice
    3. Only if the air temperature stays above minus 20 °C
    4. Only if you keep the flight shorter than 10 minutes

12. Why must a drone never enter a cloud?

    1. Every cloud layer is controlled airspace by law
    2. The GPS signal cannot pass through any cloud layer
    3. It would leave the pilot's visual line-of-sight
    4. Clouds always contain lightning, hail and ice

13. A thunderstorm is approaching your site. What is the safest choice?

    1. Do not take off; land if you are already flying
    2. Climb above 400 ft to get over the turbulence
    3. Fly under the storm, where the air looks clear
    4. Fly quickly to finish the job before the rain starts

14. Frost has formed overnight on your drone's propellers. What must you do before take-off?

    1. Fly, since frost on propellers is too thin to matter
    2. Fly only in hover mode for the first five minutes
    3. Remove it; no frost may stick to critical surfaces
    4. Fly at full power so the frost blows off on its own