USI 2026/2027 | STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS &
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM REVIEW
What is a system? - ANS ✔✔a group of interacting or interrelated components, processes, or parts that
work together to perform a specific function or achieve a particular goal
What does the flight controller do for an AV? - ANS ✔✔receives data from sensors such as GPS,
accelerometers, and gyroscopes to determine the aircrafts position and altitude.
Where is the payload and what does it do? - ANS ✔✔its housed in the AV and includes, cameras, radar,
and other info to allow the AV to gather info about its environment
the control system consists of: - ANS ✔✔a computer, radio transmitter/receiver , and a monitor.
the data link allows the pilot to: - ANS ✔✔communicate with the aircraft and receive data from its
sensors
Who is the party responsible for the performance and application of the system? - ANS ✔✔the human
element
operational environment: - ANS ✔✔weather conditions, terrain, and obstacles
regulatory environment: - ANS ✔✔patchwork of rules and regulations focused on safety, security, and
privacy.
organizational environment: - ANS ✔✔organizations involved in the development, operation, and
management of RPAS
what are organizations in the organizational environment responsible for? - ANS ✔✔ensuring the safety,
reliability, and security of RPAS operations, as well as complying with regulatory req.
what is modern diversity and inclusion trying to change the U in UAS to? - ANS ✔✔Unscrewed
what 2 types of UAS are based on autonomy? - ANS ✔✔RPAS and Autonomous UAS
Gross Takeoff Weight, Group 1: - ANS ✔✔<20lbs
Gross Takeoff Weight, Group 2: - ANS ✔✔20-55lbs
Gross Takeoff Weight, Group 3 - ANS ✔✔55-1320lbs
Gross Takeoff Weight, Group 4 - ANS ✔✔>1320 lbs but under 18,000 MSL
Gross Takeoff Weight, Group 5 - ANS ✔✔>1320 lbs but over 18,000 MSL
FAA small UAS measurement - ANS ✔✔weigh less than 55lbs GTOW
, EASA open category measurements - ANS ✔✔<55lbs (25kg)
EASA specific category - ANS ✔✔>55lbs (25kg)
the 5 types of RPAS are: - ANS ✔✔Single-rotor, multirotor, aerostat, powerlift, and fixed-wing
what does an aerostat RPAS use to stay aloft? - ANS ✔✔buoyant gases
what is a powerlift RPAS combined of? - ANS ✔✔the features of both fixed-wing and multirotor.
What do fixed winged RPAS have rather than rotors? - ANS ✔✔propellers or jet engines
how many data links are for visual line of sight, and what is it - ANS ✔✔1 DL and is limited by the crew's
ability to see the AV
how many data links are for extended line of sight, and what is it - ANS ✔✔1DL, but and uses trained
observers to extend the range
what is beyond visual line of sight - ANS ✔✔stays within the data links range but beyond the crews
ability to see the AV
how many data links are for beyond line of sight, and what is it? - ANS ✔✔uses multiple DLs to enable
the AV to be operated at a greater distance from the operator
Operations that are well suited for RPAS are: - ANS ✔✔commercial, public safety, scientific, and defense
the 3 advantages of RPAS systems over a conventionally piloted aircraft are: - ANS ✔✔Human factors
and safety, performance, cost efficiency
what does the term "dangerous" mean in human factors and safety? - ANS ✔✔to eliminate the need for
human pilots in dangerous situations
what does the term "dull" mean in human factors and safety? - ANS ✔✔to eliminate repetitive tasks
requiring little human intervention and can lead to errors.
what does the term "dirty" mean in human factors and safety? - ANS ✔✔to eliminate the need to
expose a human to hazardous environments
what are the factors of performance for reasons why RPAS can be used over conventional aircraft? - ANS
✔✔can navigate through tight spaces and fly at slower speeds, using lightweight materials and designs
to enable high endurance and ultra-high-altitude flight.
what will an AV do in the event of a loss of link? - ANS ✔✔it will execute a preprogrammed logic.
what are the 2 things that an AV can do when it looses a link? - ANS ✔✔1. can go back to the departure
point using return-to-home logic.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM REVIEW
What is a system? - ANS ✔✔a group of interacting or interrelated components, processes, or parts that
work together to perform a specific function or achieve a particular goal
What does the flight controller do for an AV? - ANS ✔✔receives data from sensors such as GPS,
accelerometers, and gyroscopes to determine the aircrafts position and altitude.
Where is the payload and what does it do? - ANS ✔✔its housed in the AV and includes, cameras, radar,
and other info to allow the AV to gather info about its environment
the control system consists of: - ANS ✔✔a computer, radio transmitter/receiver , and a monitor.
the data link allows the pilot to: - ANS ✔✔communicate with the aircraft and receive data from its
sensors
Who is the party responsible for the performance and application of the system? - ANS ✔✔the human
element
operational environment: - ANS ✔✔weather conditions, terrain, and obstacles
regulatory environment: - ANS ✔✔patchwork of rules and regulations focused on safety, security, and
privacy.
organizational environment: - ANS ✔✔organizations involved in the development, operation, and
management of RPAS
what are organizations in the organizational environment responsible for? - ANS ✔✔ensuring the safety,
reliability, and security of RPAS operations, as well as complying with regulatory req.
what is modern diversity and inclusion trying to change the U in UAS to? - ANS ✔✔Unscrewed
what 2 types of UAS are based on autonomy? - ANS ✔✔RPAS and Autonomous UAS
Gross Takeoff Weight, Group 1: - ANS ✔✔<20lbs
Gross Takeoff Weight, Group 2: - ANS ✔✔20-55lbs
Gross Takeoff Weight, Group 3 - ANS ✔✔55-1320lbs
Gross Takeoff Weight, Group 4 - ANS ✔✔>1320 lbs but under 18,000 MSL
Gross Takeoff Weight, Group 5 - ANS ✔✔>1320 lbs but over 18,000 MSL
FAA small UAS measurement - ANS ✔✔weigh less than 55lbs GTOW
, EASA open category measurements - ANS ✔✔<55lbs (25kg)
EASA specific category - ANS ✔✔>55lbs (25kg)
the 5 types of RPAS are: - ANS ✔✔Single-rotor, multirotor, aerostat, powerlift, and fixed-wing
what does an aerostat RPAS use to stay aloft? - ANS ✔✔buoyant gases
what is a powerlift RPAS combined of? - ANS ✔✔the features of both fixed-wing and multirotor.
What do fixed winged RPAS have rather than rotors? - ANS ✔✔propellers or jet engines
how many data links are for visual line of sight, and what is it - ANS ✔✔1 DL and is limited by the crew's
ability to see the AV
how many data links are for extended line of sight, and what is it - ANS ✔✔1DL, but and uses trained
observers to extend the range
what is beyond visual line of sight - ANS ✔✔stays within the data links range but beyond the crews
ability to see the AV
how many data links are for beyond line of sight, and what is it? - ANS ✔✔uses multiple DLs to enable
the AV to be operated at a greater distance from the operator
Operations that are well suited for RPAS are: - ANS ✔✔commercial, public safety, scientific, and defense
the 3 advantages of RPAS systems over a conventionally piloted aircraft are: - ANS ✔✔Human factors
and safety, performance, cost efficiency
what does the term "dangerous" mean in human factors and safety? - ANS ✔✔to eliminate the need for
human pilots in dangerous situations
what does the term "dull" mean in human factors and safety? - ANS ✔✔to eliminate repetitive tasks
requiring little human intervention and can lead to errors.
what does the term "dirty" mean in human factors and safety? - ANS ✔✔to eliminate the need to
expose a human to hazardous environments
what are the factors of performance for reasons why RPAS can be used over conventional aircraft? - ANS
✔✔can navigate through tight spaces and fly at slower speeds, using lightweight materials and designs
to enable high endurance and ultra-high-altitude flight.
what will an AV do in the event of a loss of link? - ANS ✔✔it will execute a preprogrammed logic.
what are the 2 things that an AV can do when it looses a link? - ANS ✔✔1. can go back to the departure
point using return-to-home logic.
