The 5 Trap Questions the FAA Loves to Use
The Part 107 test rewards precision. Wrong answer choices look plausible to test-takers who know the concept but not the exact rule. These are the 5 trap patterns that show up across multiple test sections, why each wrong answer feels right, and exactly how to beat each one.
The Part 107 test rewards precision over general understanding. Wrong answer choices look plausible, especially to test-takers who know the concept but not the exact rule.
Understanding why each wrong answer is wrong is as valuable as knowing the right answer. These five patterns come up across multiple questions and multiple domains. Learn them once and they stop working on you.
Trap 1: 87 knots vs 100 knots
The Part 107 maximum groundspeed is 87 knots, which equals 100 mph. The FAA always lists both units in the question or answer choices.
"100 knots" feels right because 100 is a round number. It is the kind of wrong answer that catches test-takers who skim the unit.
100 knots is 115 mph, well above the legal limit. The actual limit is 100 mph, which is 87 knots.
87 is the odd number to remember. Write "87 kts = 100 mph" on your scratch paper at the start of the test. You will not have to think about it again.
Trap 2: Calendar days vs business days
You must report a Part 107 accident within 10 calendar days. The trigger is serious injury or property damage over $500.
Watch for answer choices that say "10 business days" or "5 business days." Both are wrong; the FAA uses calendar days.
"Business days" feels right because it suggests you have more time. But the FAA uses calendar days. Weekends and holidays count. The clock starts at the accident, not when you get a damage estimate.
The $500 threshold excludes the cost of the drone itself. Only third-party property damage counts.
Trap 3: AGL vs MSL
Nearly every altitude limit in Part 107 is AGL (above ground level), not MSL (mean sea level). This is the kind of question that can trip you up: watch for answer choices that swap MSL in where AGL belongs.
The difference matters in real flying. In a valley at sea level, your 400 ft AGL ceiling is 400 ft MSL. On a hillside at 200 ft MSL, your 400 ft AGL ceiling is 600 ft MSL.
AGL floats with the terrain. It always means above whatever ground is directly under your drone.
The one place MSL appears is in airspace descriptions. Airspace floors and ceilings are expressed in MSL. But operational limits for Part 107 are always AGL.
Trap 4: TFRs apply to all aircraft, no altitude floor
TFRs apply to all aircraft from the surface up, including drones. There is no altitude floor that exempts you.
This is the kind of question that can trip you up. Watch for answer choices that argue "You may fly below 400 feet AGL because TFRs only affect manned aircraft" or "TFRs apply above 400 feet." Both lines of reasoning are wrong.
Flying at 50 feet does not put you "under" a TFR. If a TFR is active over your planned flight area, you cannot fly without specific authorization, no matter how low you stay.
Presidential TFRs (P-TFRs) are the most serious category. Violation can result in federal charges. Check NOTAMs and the B4UFLY app before every flight.
Trap 5: The hazardous attitude names
The FAA identifies five hazardous attitudes that lead to accidents. The test presents scenarios and asks you to identify which attitude is being displayed.
The names are similar enough that candidates mix them up. Learn them by the internal monologue that signals each one.
| Attitude | The thought pattern | The scenario |
|---|---|---|
| Machismo | "I can do it, watch me" | Taking unnecessary risks to show off or prove skill |
| Invulnerability | "It won't happen to me" | Ignoring risks because accidents happen to other people |
| Impulsivity | "Do something, anything, now" | Acting without thinking through the consequences |
| Anti-authority | "Don't tell me what to do" | Resenting and ignoring rules, procedures, or instructions |
| Resignation | "What's the use?" | Giving up control because the outcome seems predetermined |
The most commonly confused pair is Machismo vs Invulnerability.
Machismo is about ego. Doing something risky to prove you can. A pilot who flies through a storm to impress a client is showing Machismo.
Invulnerability is about risk blindness. Believing that bad outcomes simply will not happen to you. A pilot who says "I have done this a hundred times, nothing will go wrong" is showing Invulnerability.
Practice with real FAA style questions and get detailed explanations for every answer.