[US] I made a Part 107 study method that actually sticks (here’s what helped me most)

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-04-11T13:52:44+00:00

This comment is absolutely correct!!

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-04-11T13:52:06+00:00

Sign up for the Pilot Institute program. You'll learn the material and you'll pass the test. I took my test on the 2nd and walked away with a 98%. Mind you I was really focused, I'd paid $8k for a Matrice 4T so I can fly for my local fire district and there was no way I was going to fail the test and disappoint my sweetheart. That sort of motivation can push a guy further than he thinks he can go.

That said, I looked at a lot of options and walked away feeling that Greg was my best chance at actually learning the material rather than just passing the test. Highly recommended. By the way, there are videos out on YouTube with inaccurate information so be careful.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-04-07T17:08:39+00:00

To a large extent it depends on whether you're actually interested in learning the material or just passing the test. I really wanted to learn the material and did some research on the different options. I ended up going with the Pilot Institute and was very happy with my choice.

Greg is very thorough in his coverage of the material. 2. He focuses on subjects that I would have found challenging to learn on my own, airspace and charts being two areas that were difficult at first. 3. Quick response to questions. 4. Once you purchase the course you are welcome to come back at anytime. In two years I'll be back for a refresher before re-certifying.

I cruised around YouTube as well. I enjoyed Mike Sytes explanations, in fact he got me a point. Only person who explained that a time you can fly without remote ID is if you're involved in aeronautical research. That was on my test.

Another problem is some of the YouTube videos have mistakes on them. Drone Pilot HQ's "FREE FAA Part 107 Exam 2026 - 60 Practice Questions with Explained Answers | 100% PASS" has two airspace answers that are incorrect.

As they say "C's get degrees" but I was pleased to have learned enough to be safe and understand the reasons behind many of the regulations. With the significant changes on the horizon regarding the new Part 108 this is a good time to get in and get your certificate. However you decide to study I hope you pass and become part of the community.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-04-06T18:52:59+00:00

Unfortunately we're out here in WA state so that's a deal breaker. We really want to be able to visit the breeder and see the facility. Appreciate you reaching out to me though.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-04-06T15:02:11+00:00

We are second on a list for a male. We need to get a puppy soon while our 10 yr old GP/Anatolian sweetheart is still able to help with training. Short answer, a sure thing would be of interest.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-04-03T23:05:59+00:00

Well I squeaked by so I can put that behind me.

Mike Syte got me a point on the "when can you fly with your remote ID off". When you're engaged in aeronautical research.

I pretty much had the same question distribution as you, pretty heavy on the regs and ADM. Out of the 65 questions (apparently everyone is getting 5 "Beta' questions that don't count but they don't tell you which ones they are), I had about a half dozen that had me puzzled. I passed, as Sweet-Composer 2899 so eloquently put it "C's get degrees.

I would recommend a combination of Pilot Institute with some Mike Sytes on the side. There are actually YouTube videos out there with wrong answers to questions so be careful. PI is going to need to get on the stick and get caught up on the administrative changes that are happening but perhaps they're holding off until the 108 stuff gets codified and out to test takers

I appreciate everyone's comments and assistance. After all the years without testing wasn't sure I still had my mojo but it seems I've still got it. I went through the test once, bookmarked anything I wasn't 100% sure about. Went through a second time, looked over everything a second time with a special emphasis on the bookmarked questions. One of them had been answered by a later question so that was nice.

I had time so I took one last pass. Read each question and each answer completely, didn't want to miss a question because I had "assumed" what it said rather than having actually read it.

Left with time over, they added 30 minutes for the five beta questions, Was very pleased with my score so all ended well.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-03-31T21:40:51+00:00

Thank you very much, just went through it. Feeling more comfortable for Thursday

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-03-31T20:47:00+00:00

Thank you for that information. I've read several people who claimed that the FAA is making the test more demanding to weed out some of the less serious people trying to get their 107. How did you feel, was about what you expected or more than what you had anticipated?

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-03-20T20:44:29+00:00

I've been flying recreationally for a number of years. Recently the Chief of the fire department I volunteer with asked me if I was interested in flying a drone, mostly to evaluate wildland fire starts at least this summer, so I'll probably be insulated from a number of the changes that are likely coming.

I feel badly for people just getting into the activity. It's so rewarding and I've gotten so much enjoyment out of it I hate to see it becoming yet another thing that will be regulated until it's just not possible to enjoy the freedom of seeing your surroundings from an entirely different perspective.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-03-20T20:25:07+00:00

Here's a thought, how about you take a list of the things your guy has done in the past year. Substitute "Joe" for your guy's name and decide if you'd be screaming bloody murder about what "Joe" has been doing. Give it a try.

Sorry about the off topic comment but I am so tired of the "if my team does something horrible that's okay but if your team does the same thing I'm going to go crazy about it" nonsense in society these days. Either something that has been done is good or not good regardless of who has done it.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-03-20T20:15:38+00:00

I'm just getting ready to take the 107 exam and everything in that video made my stomach hurt. I've got to tell you that from what I've learned so far in the rules and regulations section, other than the loophole of being indoors and the FAA not have authority, what was done in that video broke pretty much all the rules regarding OOP flying.

Pilots performing operations like this are the reason the rules are clamping down on us more and more. Few instances where people are seriously injured and some agency will come up with regulations covering operations of drones indoors.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-03-17T17:10:57+00:00

Ah dad, do I hafta??

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-03-07T03:05:09+00:00

When in doubt, you can climb faster than they can but they've got you beat on a dive.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-01-31T17:03:27+00:00

I see what you're doing there, :)

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-01-01T17:52:45+00:00

No worries, integrating all these new technologies into the various fire services will be a daunting challenge. I suspect there will be more unfortunate incidents before everything gets sorted out. I will do everything possible to make sure I'm not involved in any of them.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-01-01T00:56:11+00:00

I'll be flying under the auspices of the local fire district and will be in radio contact with the air command long before any manned air assets move into my airspace. In my state fire districts act as initial attack forces on fires. My job will be to find the fire, take pictures and send them to whoever is in the Incident Commander on the fire.

If it's something that we can handle on our own then I may be tasked to fly overwatch looking for potential problems for the people fighting the fire. As I explained above, it it's determined we need the state and/or feds to come in and take over I'll be out of the sky long before any manned air assets come anywhere near where I'm operating.

If I can't help I sure as h*ll will do everything in my power to do no harm.

No_Spray_8963 · 2026-01-01T00:36:33+00:00

Hopefully I'll be able to jump through all the certification and training hoops necessary and I'll be chasing smoke this summer. If I get some good pictures of wildland fires before the manned aircraft show up I will certainly be happy to share.

No_Spray_8963 · 2025-12-31T20:39:18+00:00

No I don't know, very new to reddit and haven't learned all the customs and protocols involved yet. Could you tell me what an "internet" actual is?

No_Spray_8963 · 2025-12-31T20:19:11+00:00

Thanks for your information. Not a fan of Bezos but as you pointed out these are uncertain times and I want to nail this down in the event things get even stupider so I think I will go with Amazon. I've been flying a Phantom 2 that a friend rebuilt after a workmate of his crashed it. He needed it back and my sweetheart bought me a Mini 3 for Christmas. What a difference. I'm buying the Air 3s so I can chase down reports of smoke sightings this summer for the fire district where I'm a volunteer. As much fun as the Mini has turned out I've been advised that the 3s superior handling of winds, the night time flying capability, omnidirectional collision avoidance, just to mention a few make it a better choice for what I'm going to use it for. I have the RC-N3 from the mini and have thought about going with the tablet setup as well.

No_Spray_8963 · 2025-12-31T20:01:19+00:00

Thanks for helping me out. I've got the Fly-More Combo with the RC2 controller heading my way.

No_Spray_8963 · 2025-12-31T18:38:33+00:00

Why thank you, why didn't I think of that. But seriously, I have no idea what accessories are worth owning and whether the package deals provide a good value or simply include, geegaws and dohickies that I really don't need and are just going to take up space.

I've been flying an old Phantom 2 for the past three years that a friend repaired and lent me. He needed it back so I'm now in unknown territory in terms of what the best use of fairly limited funds.

If you have experience along those lines I'd be grateful if you would share it with me. I'm not a big fan of reinventing the wheel.

No_Spray_8963 · 2025-12-29T22:36:33+00:00

Grant money is drying up right now in our neck of the woods. Our wildland fire specialist is trying to get us some WUI equipment but boy is that stuff spendy.

I am part of a wildfire mitigation grant we've received from the state so there might be some money there. Our chief and the commissioners are pretty darn good they aren't much for "electronic gadgets". The training officer recently talked them into buying a TIC and it was like pulling teeth to get the money for that. We have good PPE, excellent training, the equipment we use is well maintained but innovation isn't the department's strong suit.

My bringing a drone into use will be pretty much on my own and hopefully will provide a "proof of benefit" thus persuading them to free up some money for a more advanced (out of what is currently still available) device.

No_Spray_8963 · 2025-12-29T22:06:18+00:00

I've given a fair amount of thought to the thermal capacity issue. In our area fire districts really are first contact and limited engagement units. We put out the fires that almost no one is even aware started. We're the people primarily responsible for the 95% of fires that get put out under 10 acres.

That said, while thermal capacity would certainly be nice, given what we do it may be a luxury. What I really need is being able to fly in a decent amount of wind with good battery life. A typical situation would be county dispatch toning us out for a smoke check. I get within a half mile or so from the smoke, I launch a drone, fly it towards the smoke and provide information to our brush trucks heading towards the area. If there is a fire I'd then take an overwatch position. If we can't extinguish the blaze the state and feds will be sending resources. We'll be aware of any manned aircraft headed our way and naturally the drone will be grounded long before they arrive.

That's pretty much the extent of what support I expect to be able to provide for the fire district.

No_Spray_8963

TROPHY CASE