FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot (UAG)OperationsHard
A drone manufacturer wants to self-certify a sUAS as eligible for Category 2 operations over people under Part 107. According to the regulation, what injury-based threshold must the aircraft NOT exceed if it were to strike a person?
- AA transfer of kinetic energy equivalent to 250 foot-pounds
- BAny weight below 0.55 pounds regardless of impact energy
- CA transfer of kinetic energy equivalent to 11 foot-pounds
- DA transfer of kinetic energy equivalent to 25 foot-pounds
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. A transfer of kinetic energy equivalent to 11 foot-pounds
Category 2 eligibility under 14 CFR 107.120 requires that the sUAS, upon impact with a human being, will not cause injury equivalent to or greater than the severity caused by a transfer of 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy. Category 3 uses a higher threshold of 25 foot-pounds, and Category 1 relies on the 0.55-lb weight limit instead of an energy threshold.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 250 ft-lbs is far higher than any category threshold.
- B. Weight-based eligibility applies to Category 1, not Category 2.
- D. 25 ft-lbs is the Category 3 threshold, not Category 2.
Category 2 Operations Over People
A means of compliance allowing sustained flight over people if the sUAS will not cause injury equivalent to or greater than that from an 11 foot-pound kinetic energy transfer on impact.
- Threshold: 11 ft-lbs kinetic energy
- No exposed rotating parts that could lacerate skin
- Requires FAA-accepted means of compliance declaration
Memory trick: 'Category 2 = Eleven-lb Energy Envelope'