This FAA Part 107 exam tutorial will go over 10 practice questions on airport signs, markings and operations. Airport signs and operations are part of the national airspace system topic and often appear on the test.

These questions are similar to those in the study guide I used to successfully pass the FAA Part 107 exam with a 90% score. This study guide includes 5 free online practice tests and the printed version of the Airman Knowledge testing supplement.

Also, check out my post on my entire experience of preparing for and passing the FAA Part 107 exam. There, I detail which topics to study most and what to expect on the day of your exam.

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FAA Part 107 Exam Airport Signs Questions

The questions below uses the Airman Knowledge Testing supplement. You can download it for free or purchase a hard copy from Amazon.

Question #1

The recommended entry position for manned aircraft to enter an airport traffic pattern is:

A.   45° to the base leg just below traffic pattern altitude

B.   to enter 45° at the midpoint of the downwind leg at traffic pattern altitude

C.   to cross directly over the airport at traffic pattern altitude and join the downwind leg

This question wants to know the entry position for the aircraft to get into an airport traffic. When operating your drone near airports, you must understand the airport traffic patterns. The standard airport traffic pattern is to make all turns to the left in circular motion.

There are numerous courses in the airport traffic pattern that an aircraft can fly. Such courses are called legs and they are:

1. Upwind leg. Aircrafts fly the upwind leg parallel to the landing runway in the direction of landing traffic. Manned airplanes fly the upwind leg after making a go-around.
2. Crosswind leg. This is a course that goes perpendicular to the takeoff runway. The pilot typically enters the crosswind leg after making the upwind leg.
3. Downwind leg. This is a course that an airplane flies parallel to the landing runway, but in the direction opposite to the landing.
4. Base leg. It is the opposite of the crosswind leg. Aircrafts fly the base leg right before landing and perpendicular to the takeoff runway.
5. Final approach. The final approach leg is the descending path after completing the base leg and extending to the point of touchdown.

The preferred way to enter the airport traffic is at a 45 ° angle to the downwind leg near the midpoint of the runway. Hence, this makes B the answer to the question.

Question #2

The numbers 9 and 27 on a runway indicate that the runway is oriented approximately:

A.   009° and 027° true

B.   090° and 270° true

C.   090° and 270° magnetic

The second question asks what the numbers 9 and 27 on a runway indicate in terms of geographical orientation. To understand what the numbers 9 and 27 mean, imagine a compass.

The compass on the chart shows magnetic north at zero degrees, East at 90°, South at 180° and West at 270°.

As for runways, their names are given in numbers from 1 to 36. These numbers denote the runway’s heading relative to magnetic north in decadegrees. Decadegrees mean that runway names are in tens of degrees rounded to the nearest 10°. So, just add one more zero to the runway number to get the direction in degrees relative to the Magnetic North.

For instance, the runway facing 223° heading in the southwest direction is runway 22. The aircraft landing on runway 22 will be touching down at northeast and making a stop at southwest. If there is more than one runway going the same direction, the runway will have the letters L (left), R (right) and C (center).

The question states that there two runways named 9 and 27. Number 9 means a runway facing 90° relative to Magnetic North. The airplane landing on runway 9 will be touching down and going exactly from West to East. Similarly, runway 27 faces 270° relative to Magnetic North. The aircraft landing on runway 27 will be going from East to West.

Choices A and B are incorrect. This is because they give runways’ directions relative to True North. But, we know from before it should be relative to Magnetic North. This makes choice C the answer.

Question #3

(Refer to Figure 26, Area 2.) While monitoring the Cooperstown CTAF you hear an aircraft announce that they are midfield left downwind to RWY 13. Where would the aircraft be relative to the runway?

A.   The aircraft is East

B.   The aircraft is South 

C.   The aircraft is West

The third question asks you to identify the position of the aircraft relative to the runway. You also know that this aircraft’s is near the midfield left downwind relative to runway 13. Runway 13 will face 130 degree direction from northwest to southeast. Midfield left downwind means that the runway is to the left side of the airplane. At the same time, the airplane is heading opposite and midway of the landing runway.

This places the aircraft to the East of runway 13. Given this, choice A is the answer.

Question #4

An aircraft announces that they are on the short final for Runway 9. Where will the aircraft be in relation to the airport?

A.   North

B.   West 

C.   East

The fourth question want to know the position of the aircraft relative to the airport. The question also states that the aircraft is on the short final for runway 9. The runway will run at exactly 90 degrees with aircraft landing from West to East.

Being on the short final would place the aircraft right in front of the runway on the west side and heading east. Hence, the answer is B, meaning that the aircraft is to the west of the airport.

Question #5

You are conducting sUAS operations northeast of a nearby airport. While monitoring the CTAF, an aircraft announces that it is departing Runway 36 utilizing a right traffic pattern. Will the aircraft potentially conflict with your operation?

A.   No, the aircraft will be flying on the west side of the airport

B.   No, the aircraft will be flying to the south of the airport 

C.   Yes, the aircraft may overfly northeast of the airport

You are operating your drone northeast of a nearby airport. The question want to know if this will conflict with the aircraft departing from runway 36. You are also told that the aircraft will use the right traffic pattern. Let’s take a look at the positions of the aircraft and your drone.

The aircraft departing runway 36 will fly from south to north in the direction of the Magnetic North. Also, the aircraft will use the right traffic pattern. This means that it will turn right towards the northeast on the crosswind leg.

You also know that the drone operations happen northeast from the airport. This means that the aircraft will overfly the area where you are operating your drone. Hence, the answer is choice C.

Question #6

While operating a sUAS just south of a controlled airport with authorization, ATC notifies you to stay clear of the Runway 6 final approach course. What action should you take to comply with this request?

A.   Stay clear of areas to the west and north of your area of operation

B.   Stay clear of areas to the east and north of your area of operation

C.   Stay clear of areas to the west and south of your area of operation

First, note that the drone operations are to the south of the airport. You also know that the air traffic control (ATC) requires you to stay clear of runway 6 final approach course. Based on this information, we can draw a diagram for this question.

First, establish that that runway six faces 60 degrees from southwest to northeast. The final approach will be a path facing 60 degrees in the southwest area. The blue dot indicates your drone’s location. To stay clear of runway 6 final approach course, you must avoid areas that are to the north and west from where you are. This makes A the answer to this question.

Question #7

When turning onto a taxiway from another taxiway, what is the purpose of the taxiway directional sign? 

A.   Indicates direction to take-off runway

B.   Indicates designation and direction of exit taxiway from runway

C.   lndicates designation and direction of taxiway leading out of an intersection

Let’s take a look at the diagram showing runways, taxiways and typical markings at the airport.

Aircrafts use runways to take off. Taxiways are paths that connect runways with other airport facilities. The chart above shows runway 19, which has a white dashed centerline. It also shows two intersecting taxiways marked with solid yellow centerlines. There is also taxiway direction sign showing direction to taxiway A.

Runway markings are in white, while taxiway markings are typically yellow.

On the photo above, there is a taxiway location sign written in yellow on black. This sign identifies the taxiway on which an aircraft is located. In this case it is taxiway D. Second, there is a taxiway directional sign that this question asks about. The taxiway directional signs are in black on yellow. They show the direction of the upcoming taxiway at the intersection. On the picture above, it is taxiway B.

This makes choice C the answer to this question. Choices A and B are both wrong. Taxiway directional signs are dealing with one taxiway leading out of another taxiway. They have nothing to do with runways.

Question #8

When approaching holding lines from the side with the continuous lines, the pilot

A.   may continue taxiing

B.   should not cross the lines without ATC clearance

C.   should continue taxiing until all parts of the aircraft have crossed the lines

This question mentions the side with the continuous lines. In this case, it refers to the aircraft which is riding on a taxiway. This is so because taxiways are roads marked by continuous lines.

The holding lines on taxiways refer to the yellow dashed line on the taxiway as indicated above. They are present in areas with high traffic, especially near taxiway intersections. The aircraft must stop before these lines and get clearance from the ATC. Choice B is the only correct answer to this question.

Question #9

What is the purpose for the runway hold position markings on the taxiway?

A.   Holds aircraft short of the runway

B.   Allows an aircraft permission onto the runway

C.   ldentifies area where aircraft are prohibited

The runway hold position markings on the taxiway consist of two solid and two dashed yellow lines as shown below.

The markings are in areas where taxiway transitions into runways (highlighted in red rectangle). The aircraft must hold before the solid lines and seek clearance from the ATC. If the aircraft crosses the solid yellow lines, it will be on the runway. Hence, the answer is A.

Question #10

You have received authorization to operate an sUAS at an airport. When flying the sUAS, the ATC tower instructs you to stay clear of all runways. Which situation would indicate that you are complying with this request?

A.   You are on the double dashed yellow line side of markings near the runway

B.   You are over dashed white lines in the center of the pavement 

C.   You are on the double solid yellow line side of markings near the runway 

This question refers to the runway holding markings on taxiways that we just covered. Remember, if the aircraft crosses solid lines, it is considered to be on the runway.

Looking at the answers, we see that answer A is incorrect. This is so because you are considered on the runway if you go beyond solid lines.

Answer B is incorrect too because runways are marked with dashed white centerlines. Answer B implies that you are on the runway.

Thus, the answer is C. The aircraft on the double solid yellow line side of markings by the runway means that you off the runway.

Concluding Remarks

This is it for this tutorial. We made many more YouTube tutorials to help you prepare for the FAA part 107 exam. If you have questions about this material, let us know in the comments section.