UAG Exam Prep
UAG Exam Glossary - 42 Terms
Search the terminology pack for Unmanned Aircraft General - Part 107. Use these definitions with the study guide and practice questions.
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- 14 CFR Part 107
- The section of federal regulations governing the civil operation of small unmanned aircraft systems in the United States.
A
- aeronautical chart
- A map used for aviation navigation that depicts airspace, airports, terrain, obstacles, and chart symbology relevant to flight operations.
- AGL
- Above Ground Level; an altitude measured relative to the surface directly below the aircraft.
- aircraft performance
- The operational capability of an aircraft, including takeoff, climb, lift, and overall efficiency under given conditions.
- anti-collision light
- Lighting required for certain night operations, visible for at least 3 statute miles to help detect the aircraft.
- ATC
- Air Traffic Control; the service that manages aircraft operations in controlled airspace and issues instructions to authorized operators.
- authorization
- FAA or ATC approval permitting a small UAS operation in otherwise restricted circumstances, such as controlled airspace.
B
- battery failure
- Loss of sufficient electrical power during flight, a common preventable cause of UAS accidents if not addressed in planning.
- broken cloud layer
- A cloud layer covering more than half the sky and qualifying as a ceiling in aviation weather reporting.
- BVLOS
- Beyond Visual Line of Sight; an operation in which the remote pilot cannot maintain direct unaided visual contact with the aircraft.
C
- ceiling
- The height above the earth's surface of the lowest cloud layer reported as broken or overcast.
- center of gravity
- The point at which an aircraft's mass is considered concentrated; improper center of gravity can degrade controllability and safety.
- Class C airspace
- Controlled airspace surrounding busier airports where ATC authorization and compliance with ATC instructions are required for small UAS operations.
- Class E airspace
- Controlled airspace that may begin at the surface or above designated altitudes and is depicted on sectional charts with specific symbology such as dashed magenta when it begins at the surface around an airport.
- Class G airspace
- Uncontrolled airspace in which basic weather minimums still apply to small UAS operations under Part 107.
- cold front
- The leading edge of an advancing cold air mass that commonly causes wind shifts and weather changes as it passes.
- control station
- The ground location or interface from which the remote pilot monitors and controls the small UAS.
D
- dashed magenta circle
- Aeronautical chart symbol indicating an airport with Class E airspace beginning at the surface.
- density altitude
- Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature; higher density altitude reduces aircraft performance by lowering air density.
E
- equivalent level of safety
- A safety standard used in waiver applications requiring the applicant to show that alternative mitigations provide safety comparable to the rule being waived.
F
- flight termination system
- A system designed to immediately stop or end the flight of a UAS when continued flight would be unsafe.
I
- in-flight emergency
- A situation arising during flight that requires immediate action, often including prompt landing in a suitable area.
L
- Limited Remote ID
- A form of Remote Identification in which the aircraft transmits required identification information through an internet-connected ground station within operational limits.
M
- moving vehicle operation
- A Part 107 operation in which the remote pilot controls a small UAS from a moving land or water vehicle under limited conditions.
N
- night operations
- Small UAS flights conducted during nighttime, subject to additional regulatory requirements such as lighting and, in older rule sets, waiver conditions.
O
- operations over people
- A regulated small UAS activity involving flight over human beings, generally prohibited unless specific rule conditions or authorization are met.
- overcast
- A cloud condition in which the sky is completely covered, and which constitutes a ceiling in weather reports.
P
- payload
- Equipment or cargo carried by a small UAS, such as a camera, that affects weight and balance.
- preflight inspection
- A required check of the aircraft and operational condition before flight to identify defects or unsafe conditions.
- preflight planning
- The process of evaluating aircraft status, weather, airspace, mission requirements, and risk factors before departure.
- propeller blade
- A rotating blade that produces thrust; damage such as cracks makes the aircraft unsafe for flight.
- property damage reporting
- The Part 107 requirement to report certain accidents involving property damage above the regulatory threshold.
R
- radio control failure
- Loss of the control link between the remote pilot and the aircraft, requiring immediate action to maintain safety.
- Remote ID
- A regulatory capability requiring a UAS to provide identification and location information during flight for safety and security purposes.
- remote pilot in command
- The certificated person directly responsible for and having final authority over the operation and safety of a small UAS flight.
S
- statute miles
- A unit of distance used in FAA visibility requirements, including minimum visibility and anti-collision light visibility standards.
U
- unairworthy
- A condition in which an aircraft is not safe for operation due to damage, malfunction, or noncompliance.
V
- visibility
- The distance at which prominent objects can be seen and identified, used in aviation to establish weather minimums for operations.
- visual line of sight
- The ability of the remote pilot or visual observer to see the unmanned aircraft throughout the entire flight without aids other than corrective lenses.
W
- waiver
- FAA approval allowing a remote pilot to deviate from certain Part 107 operating rules when an equivalent level of safety is demonstrated.
- waypoint mission
- A preprogrammed flight path consisting of geographic points the aircraft follows autonomously.
- wind shift
- A change in wind direction, often associated with frontal passage such as the movement of a cold front.
About These Definitions
These definitions are loaded from the shared release pack. Use them with the study guide and practice questions to connect vocabulary to exam scenarios.