FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot (UAG)OperationsMedium
A remote pilot in command reviews a winter weather briefing that includes an AIRMET for icing in visible moisture along the planned survey route. What is the primary operational concern for the sUAS if it encounters these conditions?
- AIcing has no effect on sUAS since they typically operate below the freezing level regardless of surface temperature.
- BIce accumulation on propellers and airframe surfaces can add weight and disrupt airflow, degrading lift and control.
- CIcing increases LiPo battery voltage output, temporarily improving climb performance.
- DIcing only affects manned aircraft because of their larger wing surface area and does not impact small multirotors.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Ice accumulation on propellers and airframe surfaces can add weight and disrupt airflow, degrading lift and control.
Structural icing on rotors, propellers, or airframe surfaces adds weight and disrupts smooth airflow, reducing lift efficiency and degrading control authority—this affects sUAS just as it does manned aircraft, and surface temperatures can be at or below freezing regardless of low operating altitudes.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Freezing temperatures can occur at any altitude, including near the surface where sUAS operate.
- C. Cold temperatures reduce LiPo battery performance and voltage output, they don't improve it.
- D. Small aircraft are actually more vulnerable proportionally to added weight and airflow disruption from icing.
Icing Conditions and sUAS
Structural icing forms when an aircraft flies through visible moisture at or below freezing temperatures, adding weight and disrupting airflow over lifting/control surfaces.
- Occurs in visible moisture at freezing temps
- Adds weight and changes aerodynamic shape
- Reduces lift and control effectiveness
- Cold also degrades LiPo battery performance
Memory trick: Ice = added weight + ruined airflow = reduced lift.