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Airport operations and radio basics for Part 107
The test expects you to read airport information even if you never fly in a traffic pattern: know the pattern legs (upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, final), that CTAF is where pilots at non-towered airports self-announce, what ATIS gives, and that a remote pilot must not interfere with airport traffic (14 CFR 107.43).
What are the traffic pattern legs?
| Leg | Where it is flown |
|---|---|
| Upwind | Along the runway heading after takeoff |
| Crosswind | At right angles to the runway off the departure end |
| Downwind | Parallel to the landing runway, opposite to landing direction |
| Base | At right angles to the runway, off the approach end |
| Final | Aligned with the runway toward landing |
Patterns are left-hand unless marked otherwise; right traffic is shown by a segmented circle indicator or in the Chart Supplement.
Sources (checked 2026-11-12): FAA Aeronautical Information Manual.
What is CTAF and how do pilots self-announce?
The common traffic advisory frequency is used at airports without an operating tower, and the same frequency may be a UNICOM or MULTICOM. Pilots announce airport name, position and intentions, then repeat the airport name. A remote pilot should assume low crewed aircraft can appear. Source: AIM 4-1-9.
What is ATIS?
Automatic Terminal Information Service is a continuous recording of airport information with a code letter that changes at each update. Pilots mention the current letter when they contact ATC.
How do pilots read wind at an airport?
From a wind sock, wind tee or tetrahedron. A wind sock points downwind and its extension shows wind strength. A remote pilot uses it as a quick wind check at a site too.
What does Part 107 say about airports?
107.43 bars operations that interfere with traffic patterns at any airport, heliport or seaplane base, and 107.37 requires you to yield right of way to all aircraft. A heliport is treated the same way. Flights in controlled airspace need authorization first (LAANC).
Free practice questions on this topic
8 original questions from the Sectional Cue bank. Try each one, then open the answer.
CTAF types
1. Which statement about the CTAF assigned to a particular airport is correct?
- It may be a UNICOM, MULTICOM, FSS or tower frequency, as published
- It is always 122.9, the frequency shared by every airport without a tower
- It is always the airport's ATIS frequency, so pilots hear the weather too
Show answer and explanation
A. It may be a UNICOM, MULTICOM, FSS or tower frequency, as published
AIM 4-1-9 says the CTAF may be a UNICOM, MULTICOM, FSS or tower frequency and is identified in aeronautical publications. 122.9 is the MULTICOM frequency used only where there is no tower, FSS or UNICOM. ATIS is a separate recorded broadcast, not a frequency for exchanging traffic advisories.
Source: AIM 4-1-9
ATIS code letter
2. An ATIS recording ends with "Advise on initial contact you have information Kilo." What does Kilo identify?
- The runway in use for arrivals and departures at the airport
- The controller who recorded this broadcast for the tower
- The current recording, named by its phonetic letter
Show answer and explanation
C. The current recording, named by its phonetic letter
AIM 4-1-13 says each ATIS broadcast carries a phonetic letter code, and pilots repeat that code on initial contact to show they have the current information. The runway in use is given by number within the broadcast. Controllers are not identified by the ATIS code letter.
Source: AIM 4-1-13
Traffic pattern legs
3. Which traffic pattern leg is flown parallel to the landing runway, in the direction opposite to landing?
- Base leg
- Crosswind leg
- Downwind leg
Show answer and explanation
C. Downwind leg
AIM 4-3-2 defines the downwind leg as a flight path parallel to the landing runway in the opposite direction of landing. The base leg and the crosswind leg are both at right angles to the runway, off the approach end and the takeoff end respectively.
Source: AIM 4-3-2
Self-announce phraseology
4. Why do manned pilots say the airport name at both the beginning and the end of a self-announce call?
- Nearby airports may share the frequency, so it shows which airport is meant
- So the ATIS recording can log the call and the time it was made
- Saying the name twice replaces the need to state the runway number in the call
Show answer and explanation
A. Nearby airports may share the frequency, so it shows which airport is meant
AIM 4-1-9 says aircraft at other nearby airports may be using the same UNICOM or MULTICOM frequency, so the airport name is spoken at the beginning and end of each self-announce call. ATIS does not record pilot calls. The AIM still wants the runway number used, not replaced.
Source: AIM 4-1-9
Wind indicators
5. At a nontowered airport, the wind sock is stretched out toward the west. Where is the wind coming from?
- From the west
- It cannot be told without a tetrahedron
- From the east
Show answer and explanation
C. From the east
AIM 4-3-4 says the large end of a wind cone or wind sock points into the wind, so a sock streaming toward the west has its large end toward the east and the wind is from the east. Reading it as a west wind reverses the sock. A tetrahedron shows landing direction and the AIM cautions against using it for wind.
Source: AIM 4-3-4
Right-of-way
6. A helicopter is approaching at about 300 ft AGL toward the area where a drone is working at 250 ft AGL. What must the remote pilot do?
- Yield, and do not pass over, under or ahead of it unless well clear
- Hold position, because the helicopter must avoid the drone below 500 ft
- Climb above the helicopter so it can pass underneath
Show answer and explanation
A. Yield, and do not pass over, under or ahead of it unless well clear
14 CFR 107.37(a) requires a small UA to yield the right of way to all aircraft and not pass over, under or ahead of them unless well clear. The helicopter has no duty to give way to the drone. Climbing over the helicopter is exactly the kind of maneuver the rule forbids unless the drone is well clear.
Source: 14 CFR 107.37(a)
Heliport
7. A hospital heliport sits in Class G airspace next to a construction site a remote pilot is filming. A medical helicopter is approaching to land. What should the pilot do?
- Climb above the helicopter to stay out of its way
- Continue, since heliports in Class G airspace have no protected operations
- Move clear of the helicopter approach path and give way, because 107.43 also protects heliport operations
Show answer and explanation
C. Move clear of the helicopter approach path and give way, because 107.43 also protects heliport operations
Section 107.43 prohibits interfering with operations at any heliport, and 107.37(a) requires yielding to manned aircraft. The Class G location does not remove those duties. Climbing over an approaching helicopter keeps the drone near its path and does not give way.
Source: 14 CFR 107.43; 14 CFR 107.37(a)
Right traffic pattern
8. In Figure 20, the Chesapeake Rgnl (CPK) data block near area 2 includes RP 23. What does this tell a remote pilot watching for manned traffic? (uses Figure 20, open the free chart lesson)
- Runway 23 is 2,300 ft long
- Aircraft using runway 23 fly a right-hand traffic pattern
- Runway 23 is closed to fixed-wing aircraft
Show answer and explanation
B. Aircraft using runway 23 fly a right-hand traffic pattern
RP followed by a runway number means that runway uses right-hand traffic, so manned aircraft turn right in the pattern for runway 23. Runway length is shown separately as a number in hundreds of feet, here 55 for 5,500 ft. RP does not mean a runway is closed. Knowing the pattern helps a remote pilot see and avoid traffic as required by 14 CFR 107.37.
Source: FAA-CT-8080-2H, Figure 20; Chart Users' Guide; 14 CFR 107.37
Related guides
- Sectional chart symbols a remote pilot must know
- Airspace authorization and LAANC for Part 107 pilots
- Aeronautical decision-making, CRM and human factors
- All Part 107 guides
Study the charts on your phone
Sectional Cue has 1150+ original questions with explanations, 27 FAA figures you can tap to read, and timed 60-question rehearsals. About 152 questions and three chart lessons are free.
Sources
- FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, checked 2026-11-12
- 14 CFR 107.43 (eCFR), checked 2026-11-12
- 14 CFR 107.37 (eCFR), checked 2026-11-12
How this page was made: written by Certloom Learning from the sources above, with the rules checked against the current regulation text. Practice items are original questions from the app's reviewed bank. Spot an error? certloomlearning@gmail.com.