Episodes

  • FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 48, Night Vision Physiology — Autokinetic Effect and Illusions

    FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 48, Night Vision Physiology — Autokinetic Effect and Illusions
    Jun 15 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The autokinetic effect is when a stationary light appears to move; mitigate it by continuously scanning the sky and not fixating on the light. - Recognize night illusions like the false horizon, where sloping clouds or ground lights are mistaken for the actual horizon, leading to disorientation. - Optimal dark adaptation for night vision takes approximately 30 minutes, a key testable fact on the FAA Part 107 exam. - Preserve night vision by using a red flashlight and avoiding bright white lights from phones or other sources before and during a flight. - Physiological factors like age, fatigue, smoking, and altitude can significantly impair your night vision capabilities. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    3 mins
  • FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 47, Night Operations — Anti-Collision Lighting

    FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 47, Night Operations — Anti-Collision Lighting
    Jun 14 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Anti-collision lights are mandatory for all drone operations during civil twilight and at night, as per 14 CFR Part 107.29. - The lights must be visible for a minimum of 3 statute miles, a specific number frequently tested on the exam. - The required flash rate is defined by its purpose—being sufficient to avoid a collision—not by a specific number of flashes per minute. - A common exam trap is to confuse the single required anti-collision light with the red, green, and white navigation lights used on manned aircraft. - The Remote Pilot in Command has the authority to reduce the light's intensity for safety, such as preserving night vision, but cannot turn it off completely during the operation. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    4 mins
  • FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 46, Vision and Scanning Techniques

    FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 46, Vision and Scanning Techniques
    Jun 13 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The FAA-approved method for systematically scanning the sky in 10-degree segments. - How empty field myopia creates a hazard by causing your eyes to lose focus at a distance. - The different roles of central and peripheral vision in detecting and identifying air traffic. - The correct technique of looking slightly off-center to spot objects in low-light conditions. - Why sunglasses can reduce contrast and which lens color is recommended for pilots. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    3 mins
  • FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 45, Physiology — Hypoxia, Fatigue, Stress, Dehydration

    FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 45, Physiology — Hypoxia, Fatigue, Stress, Dehydration
    Jun 12 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why hypoxia symptoms are tested on the Part 107 exam, even though drone pilots operate from the ground. - How to differentiate between the nearly identical symptoms of hypoxia and hyperventilation, a common exam trap. - That the FAA equates the impact of acute fatigue on judgment and reaction time to that of alcohol impairment. - How stress can cause attentional narrowing, or 'tunnel vision,' leading a pilot to miss critical hazards. - That even mild dehydration, as little as 1.5% body water loss, can significantly degrade a pilot's cognitive performance. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    4 mins
  • FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 44, Emergency Procedures — Flyaways, Fire, Lost Link

    FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 44, Emergency Procedures — Flyaways, Fire, Lost Link
    Jun 11 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A flyaway is an unresponsive drone; the first action is to switch to ATTI mode to attempt to regain manual control. - A lost link is a communication failure where the drone should follow its pre-set Return-to-Home (RTH) procedure. - Never use water on a LiPo battery fire; the correct response is a Class D extinguisher or smothering it with sand. - Pre-flight planning is critical, including setting a safe RTH altitude to clear all potential obstacles. - Exam questions often create scenarios to test if you can distinguish between a flyaway and a lost link and choose the appropriate response. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    3 mins
  • FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 43, Lost Link Procedures and Failsafe Settings

    FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 43, Lost Link Procedures and Failsafe Settings
    Jun 10 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A "lost link" is the loss of the command-and-control signal, and your pre-programmed failsafe setting determines the drone's action. - The three common failsafe options are Return-to-Home (RTH), hover, and land-in-place. - Your Return-to-Home (RTH) altitude must always be set higher than the tallest obstacle in your flight operation area. - The Remote Pilot in Command (PIC) is ultimately responsible for the outcome of a lost link event, even if automated procedures are active. - A lost link that results in serious injury or property damage over $500 may require an accident report to the FAA within 10 days under Part 107.9. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    3 mins
  • FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 42, Right of Way Rules — Yielding to Manned Aircraft

    FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 42, Right of Way Rules — Yielding to Manned Aircraft
    Jun 9 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why a small unmanned aircraft must always yield right-of-way to all other aircraft under FAA Part 107.37. - The absolute responsibility of the Remote Pilot in Command to 'see and avoid' manned aircraft. - Correct procedures for handling a converging course with another aircraft during an exam scenario. - Common exam traps involving scenarios where manned aircraft appear to be operating unusually. - A memorable phrase to ensure you always remember to yield and take evasive action. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    3 mins
  • FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 41, Crew Resource Management for Drones

    FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 41, Crew Resource Management for Drones
    Jun 8 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That Crew Resource Management (CRM) applies even to solo pilots through the effective use of resources like checklists and weather apps. - The Remote Pilot in Command (PIC) is responsible for conducting a thorough pre-flight briefing to ensure all crew members understand their roles and emergency procedures. - How to apply the "sterile cockpit" rule, which prohibits non-essential conversations during critical phases of flight to minimize distractions. - Why the Remote PIC always has the final authority and responsibility for the operation, even when encouraging open communication among the crew. - How to use the PAVE mnemonic (Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures) as a practical tool to manage resources and mitigate risks before every flight. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    4 mins