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You'll even have to learn a fair bit about aviation weather, a subject that is probably more useful than you would guess. One of the hardest things to master will be to learn how to decode and read raw aviation weather reports and forecasts, like tonight's current conditions at Portland International: KPDX 110453Z 11003KT 10SM SCT033 BKN045 17/14 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP164 T01720144 With the aerodynamics knowledge you'll need to learn, you'll get to see how the F.A.A. is still a bit behind the curve with drones. Nearly all of it deals with fixed-wing aircraft with one propeller. A multi-rotor drone flies pretty much by a combination of snazzy software and brute force, so weight and balance, stall speeds and load factors may be interesting but not particularly relevant. Sadly, they don't mention the one important bit of aerodynamics many drone pilots learn the hard way: not to descend quickly straight down. This is Only a Test When you've spent all the time with the books that you can bear, the next test is scheduling your test. Head over to catstest. com to find an exam center year you to schedule the computer- based test. Compared to other aviation written exams, the Part 107 commercial exam is not that intense: 60 multiple-choice questions that you have two hours to answer. But it's still challenging. The F.A.A. only certifies pilots who are good at paying attention, think critically, and take note of details. They love questions where at least one of the answers looks right (but isn't) and one other that's correct, but phrased in a way that makes it sound wrong. They also know the common mistakes airmen make when reading a map and they'll do their best to get you to make them. All that being said, it's not all that hard to get the minimum 70% of your answers correct (up to 18 wrong answers). One other important thing to know is that you'll have a lot of the answers with you. The Testing Supplement you'll be given has a full set of map and airport directory legends, where many of the answers lie if you know how to use them. It's a good idea to know everything that's there. And we shouldn't say this but all the raw weather data you'll be tested on are in there, too, limiting what you'll need to memorize to answer those questions correctly. You've Got Your Wings When you pass, you'll leave the exam with the temporary paperwork you need to declare yourself a licensed drone pilot. It's still up to you to get out on weekends and practice flying safely so you'll be a good one. (Helpful hint: a small "house drone" like a DJI Tello is perfect to keep in shape over the cold and stormy winter months.) Though being a commercial drone pilot isn't, of itself, a gateway to fame, fortune, and professional success, it may just get you a spot on that film crew or helping out a successful architectural photographer with some new angles they can o¬er their client. At the very least, you can have a hobby that literally pays for itself.