UA.V.F.K2: Preflight inspection.

ACS Area V — Operations Task F: Maintenance and Inspection Procedures References: A-7

Key Concepts

Preflight inspection: what you must do before every flight

• Two regulations drive your preflight: §107.15 (aircraft in a condition for safe operation) and §107.49 (preflight familiarization, inspection, and actions). Practically, this means the remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. must inspect the small UASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. before each flight to ensure it is in a condition for safe operation and check for any equipment damage or malfunctions. Conduct the inspection using the manufacturer’s procedures when available, or an owner/operator-developed procedure if not. Consider creating a tailored inspection program; preflight checks can be scaled appropriately within such a program.^[3][1]
• Preflight familiarization must include an assessment of the operating environment with, at minimum: local weather; local airspace and any flight restrictions; the location of persons and moving vehicles not directly participating; whether you are conducting operations over people or moving vehicles and that your aircraft is eligible for the applicable category; the potential for nonparticipants to enter the area; whether the operation will be conducted over an open-air assembly of persons; and other ground hazards. Brief your crew as needed.^[4]

Exam tip: If the manufacturer provides inspection or maintenance instructions, use them. If not, you must still develop and follow a procedure that allows you to determine the aircraft is safe for flight.^[1][3]

Maintenance and repair: keep it airworthy between flights

• Small UASUnmanned Aircraft SystemCloseAn unmanned aircraft plus its control station, communication links, and supporting components. maintenance includes scheduled and unscheduled overhaul, repair, inspection, modification, replacement, and system software upgrades necessary for flight. Whenever possible, maintain the aircraft and components in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If no program is provided, you may develop one.^[3]
• Scheduled maintenance may be specified by time-in-service limits (flight hours, cycles, calendar days). Adhering to the recommended schedule promotes the longest and safest service life. If the manufacturer does not provide scheduled maintenance instructions, the operator should establish a scheduled program.^[3]
• If you or maintenance personnel cannot repair, modify, or overhaul a small UASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. or component back to its safe operational specification, replace the aircraft or component with one in a condition for safe operation. Complete all required maintenance before each flight. If you elect not to use the manufacturer or its recommended personnel, ensure the expertise of anyone performing maintenance is suitable for your specific small UASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. and components.^[1]

Practical implication: Your preflight inspection is only as good as your maintenance. An unresolved defect or overdue replacement can make the aircraft not in a condition for safe operation, which grounds the flight under §107.15.^[3]

Special preflight verifications for operations over people and moving vehicles

• If you will operate over people or moving vehicles, verify your aircraft’s eligibility and required markings before flight:
  • Category 1 aircraft weigh 0.55 pounds (250 grams) or less on takeoff and throughout the operation.^[6]
  • Category 2 eligibility requires design so the aircraft will not cause injury equivalent to or greater than 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy upon impact, has no exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin, and has no safety defects. A Category 2 aircraft must display an English label that is legible, prominent, and permanently affixed, and the applicant must provide remote pilot operating instructions covering system description, permissible modifications, and how to verify/change modes or configurations. Confirm these before flight.^[8]
  • If a Category 2 or Category 3 label is damaged, destroyed, or missing, the remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. must label the aircraft in English so it is legible, prominent, and will remain on the aircraft for the duration of the operation before conducting operations over human beings. The label must correctly identify the eligible category or categories.^[2]
  • Category 4 operations require a small unmanned aircraft with an airworthiness certificate issued under part 21, operated per the approved Flight Manual or other Administrator-specified limitations that do not prohibit operations over human beings, and with maintenance/inspections performed in accordance with §107.140(c)(1). The remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. must also comply with limitations on sustained flight over open-air assemblies unless requirements of §89.110 or §89.115(a) are met.^[2]
• Moving vehicles check: If the operation is not within or over a closed/restricted-access site, you must not maintain sustained flight over any moving vehicle (transit only, no sustained flight for Categories 1–3). Within a closed/restricted-access site, operations may be permitted with conditions shown in Tables 8-1 and 8-2 (e.g., persons not directly participating must be on notice for Categories 1–3). Category 4 eligibility and Flight Manual limitations govern for that category.^[6]

Bottom line: During preflight, confirm category eligibility, required labels, and any Flight Manual limitations tied to operations over people and moving vehicles. A missing or incorrect label can prohibit the operation until corrected, and an ineligible configuration or limitation bars those operations entirely.^[2][6][8]