The Part 107 Study Guide That Actually Gets You Passed

There's a lot of noise out there telling you to sit through 15+ hours of video. You don't need that. You need to study the right things in the right order. This guide gives you the real map for free. If you'd rather have it all done for you — drilled, cram-sheeted, and paired with an AI tutor — the Part 107 Pass course is $24.99 (launch price). Either way, here's how to actually prepare.

Step 1: Know the test you're taking

The FAA Part 107 knowledge test is 60 multiple-choice questions, and you need 70% (42 correct) to pass. You take it at a PSI test center for $175. The questions come from five weighted areas — and knowing the weighting tells you where to spend your time:

• Operations — 35–45% (the biggest)
• Airspace & Sectional Charts — 15–25% (the hardest)
• Regulations — 15–25%
• Weather — 11–16%
• Loading & Performance — 5–10%

Step 2: The most-tested numbers (memorize these cold)

A big slice of the exam is pure recall. Get these locked and you bank easy points:

Step 3: Beat the hard part — airspace & charts

This is the #1 place people lose points, so give it real attention. Learn the sectional chart color code:

• Class B = solid blue line — authorization needed
• Class C = solid magenta — authorization needed
• Class D = dashed blue — authorization needed
• Class E to surface = dashed magenta — authorization needed
• Class G = uncontrolled — no authorization needed ✅

Then two more things: a magenta airport symbol = no tower, blue = has a tower; and when an airspace floor is given in MSL, subtract the ground elevation to get AGL. Use LAANC for near-instant controlled-airspace authorization. That's most of the airspace section right there.

Step 4: Make weather & METARs automatic

METARs look scary and aren't. The format never changes. Take KXYZ 241753Z 24018G30KT 10SM BKN040 28/17: wind from 240° at 18 kt gusting 30, visibility 10 SM, broken clouds at 4,000 ft, temp 28°C / dewpoint 17°C. Learn to read it once and every weather question becomes a gift. Also know: ceiling = lowest broken or overcast layer, and hot/high/humid = high density altitude = worse performance.

Step 5: Drill operations (the biggest section)

Operations is 35–45% of the exam, so don't shortchange it. The high-value pieces:

• Manned aircraft always have right of way — you yield. (Don't overthink this into "turn left.")
• The 5 hazardous attitudes and their antidotes: Anti-Authority, Impulsivity, Invulnerability, Macho, Resignation.
• RPIC = final authority and can deviate from any rule in a true emergency.
• Airport traffic patterns use left turns; a runway number × 10 = its magnetic heading (Runway 27 = 270°).
• Night ops require anti-collision lighting visible for 3 statute miles.

A realistic study plan

1. Days 1–2 — Regulations & the numbers

   Get the rules and the memorize-list down first. Quick wins that build confidence.

2. Days 3–4 — Airspace & charts

   The hard part. Spend real time here. Practice reading actual sectional excerpts until the colors and MSL/AGL math are automatic.

3. Day 5 — Weather

   Drill METAR decoding with real examples until it's fast.

4. Day 6 — Operations & loading

   The biggest section plus the small loading/performance area. Focus on right-of-way, RPIC, hazardous attitudes, night ops.

5. Day 7 — Full mock exams

   Take timed 60-question mock exams. Review every miss. Repeat until you're consistently scoring 80%+ — that's your green light to schedule the real test.

Before you sit the exam

• Create an IACRA profile and get your FTN.
• Schedule at a PSI test center ($175).
• Bring a government photo ID.
• You can miss up to 18 questions and still pass — don't panic over one hard question.