Loading Quiz

Before any flight, verify that the unmanned aircraft is correctly loaded by determining the weight and balance condition. Review any available manufacturer weight and balance data and follow all restrictions and limitations.

Refer to Appendix 1, Legend 1. In addition to local resources, the sectional chart for that region should be consulted for information on the altitude of the terrain and structures. Towers and other known obstructions are depicted with their altitude noted.

Without a GPS or manufacturer performance data, you can determine speed by timing the ground speed of the sUAS when it is flown between two or more fixed points, taking into account wind speed and direction between each point, then noting the power settings of the sUAS to operate at or less than 87 knots ground speed. This is a form of dead reckoning.Answer (B) is incorrect because pilotage will help with navigating the Sectional Chart but cannot be used to determine ground speed. Answer (C) is incorrect because the wind triangle requires that you know true airspeed to determine ground speed; without instrumentation installed on the sUAS you won't have that information.

Referencing Appendix 1, Figure 2, use the following steps: 1. Enter the chart at a 30 degree angle of bank and proceed upward to the curved reference line. From the point of intersection, move to the left side of the chart and read an approximate load factor of 1.2 Gs. 2. Multiply the aircraft weight by the load factor: 33 x 1.2 = 39.6 lbs. Or, working from the table: 33 x 1.154 (load factor) = 38.1 lbs.

Any mounted equipment should be balanced in a manner that does not adversely affect the CG or result in unsafe performance.