FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot (UAG)WeatherMedium
A remote pilot receives the following METAR before a planned operation: KXYZ 151853Z 18010KT 2SM BR OVC008 15/14 A2992. Based on 14 CFR 107.51 weather minimums, can this flight legally be conducted?
- AYes, because the wind of 10 knots is within safe operating limits
- BNo, because the 1°C temperature/dew point spread makes the air too humid to fly
- CYes, because the ceiling of 800 feet is well above the 500-foot clearance requirement
- DNo, because visibility is only 2 statute miles, below the required 3 statute mile minimum
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. No, because visibility is only 2 statute miles, below the required 3 statute mile minimum
The METAR shows 2SM visibility (2SM group) with mist (BR) and an 800-foot overcast ceiling (OVC008). 14 CFR 107.51(c) requires a minimum of 3 statute miles visibility from the control station, so this operation does not meet the minimum weather requirements regardless of the ceiling or wind.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wind speed is not restricted by 107.51 and is irrelevant to the visibility violation.
- B. The small temperature/dew point spread explains the mist but is not itself a regulatory limit.
- C. Ceiling is not the limiting factor here; visibility is what fails the requirement.
Part 107 Weather Minimums
14 CFR 107.51 sets minimum visibility and cloud clearance requirements for small UAS operations.
- Minimum visibility: 3 statute miles from control station
- Cloud clearance: 500 ft below, 2000 ft horizontal
- Max altitude 400 ft AGL, max groundspeed 87 knots (100 mph)
Memory trick: 'See three, clear the clouds' — 3SM visibility, 500 below/2000 around clouds.