FAA Update: Pilot Testing Procedures Change
RotorDrone|March/ April 2020
Nothing lasts forever,not even the staid administrative procedures of federal agencies.
PATRICK SHERMAN
FAA Update: Pilot Testing Procedures Change

Until January of this year, the process for taking the Airman Knowledge Test (ATK) had not changed since I earned my private pilot’s certificate nearly 30 years ago. Now, whether your goal is to become a commercial drone pilot, an airline transport pilot, or to earn any other rating that falls under the FAA’s jurisdiction—including parachute rigger and aircraft dispatcher—you will need to take an additional step.

Change can be stressful, especially if becoming a certified drone pilot is your only interaction with an administrative behemoth like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which can already be a daunting prospect. However, in this case, the changes are to everyone’s advantage. So let’s take a look at some common questions people have about the new procedures.

So what has changed. exactly?

In brief, you now need to register with the integrated Airman Certification and Ratings Application (IACRA) online before you take your written test to become a remote pilot in command (RPIC). Prior to this change, you would have registered with IACRA after you took the test. That’s the headline. In addition, your printed test results will no longer be embossed with an official seal by the testing center, and the codes that help you understand the questions you got wrong are being updated, making them easier to interpret. That’s it.

I fear change. Is this really necessary?

Denne historien er fra March/ April 2020-utgaven av RotorDrone.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra March/ April 2020-utgaven av RotorDrone.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA ROTORDRONESe alt
Windracers Mail Delivery
RotorDrone

Windracers Mail Delivery

With its partner Windracers Ltd., Royal Mail has become the first UK parcel carrier to deliver mail to a UK island in a 70-mile, beyond-line-of-sight, autonomous flight to the Scilly Isles. Tasked to better connect the islands’ remote communities, a consortium including Royal Mail, Windracers Ltd., DronePrep, University of Southampton, Excalibur Healthcare Services, and Consortiq Limited is funded by UK Research and Innovation.

time-read
1 min  |
August/ September 2021
Counting Penguins
RotorDrone

Counting Penguins

Counting penguins is harder than it sounds. With freezing rain, snow, and chilling winds that limit the flight windows for the surveys, it takes scientists using three full days to map the location of 300,000 nesting pairs of Adélie penguins on Antarctica’s Cape Crozier.

time-read
2 mins  |
August/ September 2021
A Drone Double Play
RotorDrone

A Drone Double Play

Beach cleanup and a historic bridge

time-read
10+ mins  |
August/ September 2021
Understanding Aviation Sectional Charts
RotorDrone

Understanding Aviation Sectional Charts

Signs and symbols every remote pilot needs to know

time-read
10 mins  |
August/ September 2021
10 TOP JOBS
RotorDrone

10 TOP JOBS

Fields where drones are taking off!

time-read
10+ mins  |
August/ September 2021
AUTONOMOUS RESUPPLY IN A CONGESTED BATTLESPACE
RotorDrone

AUTONOMOUS RESUPPLY IN A CONGESTED BATTLESPACE

Can autonomous drones deliver supplies to troops in an active firefight? DroneUp recently partnered with a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allied Command Transformation (ACT) Joint Force Development (JFD) exercise to find out.

time-read
3 mins  |
February/ March 2021
IMPROVE YOUR DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY
RotorDrone

IMPROVE YOUR DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY

10 must-know Lightroom tips

time-read
10+ mins  |
February/ March 2021
RotorDrone

UAS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT The Key to the Future of Drones

In 2012, Congress passed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act, which established a deadline for the agency: achieve full integration of drones into the airspace by 2015. As the calendar rolls over into 2021, this begs an obvious question: “Are we there yet?”

time-read
10+ mins  |
February/ March 2021
RotorDrone

FLYING FOR A LIVING

A professional UAS operator on what it takes to be successful

time-read
6 mins  |
February/ March 2021
RotorDrone

ON THE WING

This bird-like drone is incredibly agile and efficient

time-read
2 mins  |
February/ March 2021