UAS
(Unmanned Air System)
Leadership Development Requirement (LDR) Class
C/CAPT Nosear Salma
C/ AB Alvarado Dairelin
In this LDR, you will learn to
Part I: Drone safety
❖ Keep a mental note of a drone propeller arc, and never place a finger there,
even if the drone is off.
❖ Stay at least 5 drone widths away from an active drone.
❖ Always fly over flat ground where little damage will be done if your drone
crashes.
❖ Never fly indoors in an area too small.
❖ Manage your altitude; the higher you fly, the faster the wind, and the less
control you’ll have.
❖ Do not fly a drone without the supervision of the instructors.
Part II: Types of drones
The Multicopter:
Pros: Computer-controlled, very stable.
Cons: Very energy inefficient; about 5 minutes of flight time.
The Helicopter:
Pros: Most agile, some capable of flips and somersaults.
Cons: Least stable; you must always correct its’ trajectory
from wind. Least safe; high-speed and large blades can cause
serious harm.
Part II: Types of drones
The Airplane:
Pros: Very efficient, flight times from 10 to 40 minutes. Very fast, very stable.
Cons: Must always move forward, can’t hover. Do not stand in its’ way.
The Glider:
Pros: Most efficient; can fly for hours.
Cons: Relies on updrafts and wind to fly, lacking a motor.
Part III: Controlling a drone
There are three axes of control on any aircraft: roll, pitch, and yaw. Memorize them.
Roll is rotation around the
forward-aft axis.
Roll is the movement where an
aircraft or drone tilts side to side, like
turning one wing up and the other
down.
On drones (multicopters), roll is
controlled by changing the speed of
the propellers on one side. Spinning
faster on one side and slower on the
other makes the drone tilt sideways.
Part III: Controlling a drone
There are three axes of control on any aircraft: roll, pitch, and yaw. Memorize them.
Pitch is movement around the left-right
axis.
Pitching a multicopter is done by
increasing propeller speed on the front or
back, and decreasing it on the other.
Pitching a drone is the movement of the
drone forward or backward. To pitch a
drone forward, the front propellers (1 and
2) spin at a normal speed while the rear
propellers (3 and 4) spin faster. To pitch a
drone backward, the front propellers spin
faster while the rear propellers spin at a
normal speed.
Part III: Controlling a drone
Yaw movement is movement around
the vertical axis.
Yawing an airplane is done using the
rudder, a vertical flap on the tail of an
aircraft directing air to the left or right.
Yawing a drone left is done by
speeding up the clockwise propellers,
and slowing the opposite. Yawing right
is done by speeding the
counterclockwise propellers and
slowing the opposite.
Part III: Controlling a drone
This diagram is the standardized control scheme
for all American drones.
To move a helicopter or multicopter forward,
pitch down. To move side to side, roll to the side
you wish to move. To move backward, pitch up. To
turn left on an airplane or glider, roll left, then
pitch up. Level yourself after turning. To turn right,
roll right and pitch up. Use yaw controls for small
turns. Some planes may lack aileron controls. In
this case, rely on yaw control. This diagram is
extremely important, do not forget it. Memorize
the concepts of Roll, Pitch, and Yaw; these form
the foundation of aircraft flight.
Part III: Controlling a drone
There are various phases and terms your instructor will use to quickly instruct you. Here are the
most common ones:
Level yourself - To roll yourself flat, parallel to the ground.
Climb, Ascend - To pitch upwards slightly, in to gain altitude.
Descend - The opposite, of ascend; to pitch downwards to reduce altitude.
Yaw left/right - To move the drone’s nose left or right using the left control stick, or the rudder
pedals.
Roll left/right - To rotate left or right using the right control stick, or the X axis of the flight stick.
Throttle up/down - To increase or decrease engine power, using the left stick, or the throttle
lever.
Pitch up/down, Elevator up/down - To move the drone’s nose up or down using the right control
stick.
Nose - The front end of the drone, not necessarily an actual tip or point
Part IV: Avoiding Crashes
Drones are delicate and fragile. How can you avoid breaking them?
Avoid flying in or around obstacles; trees, lampposts, walls, buildings,
especially if you’re a beginner.
Be mindful of other drones, birds, and aircraft in the area. Warn others
before flying, to avoid crashes.
Don’t show off; don’t fly lower or faster than you need to.
If you are new to drones, do not fly without an experienced drone pilot
observing and instructing you.
If you are entirely unfamiliar with drone controls, try flying in a flight
simulator; there are various free drone sims for both mobile and PC
platforms
Regulation
Step 1: Learn the Rules
Make sure you understand what is and is not allowed under Part 107 rules. Review a summary of the Part
107 rules (PDF) .
Still unsure if Part 107 rules work for you and your intended operation? Check our user identification tool.
Step 2: Become an FAA-Certified Drone Pilot by Passing the Knowledge Test
1. To be eligible to get your Remote Pilot Certificate, you must be:
○ At least 16 years old
○ Able to read, write, speak, and understand English
○ Be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a UAS
2. 3. 4. 5. Review the full process to get your Remote Pilot Certificate.
Study for the Knowledge Test by reviewing the Test Prep materials provided by the FAA.
Schedule an appointment to take the Knowledge Test at an FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Center
(PDF). You must bring a government
issued ID with you to the test.
Once you've passed your test, complete FAA Form 8710-13 for a remote pilot certificate (FAA Airman
Certificate and/or Rating Application)
using the electronic FAA Integrated Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application system (IACRA. )
Drone Registration
DRONE REGISTRATION
It is required to register your drone to fly it outside:
● Registration costs $5 and is valid for 3 years. You'll need a credit or debit card and the make and
model of your drone handy in order to register.
Visit dronezone.faa.gov and select "Fly sUAS under Part 107" to create an account and register
your drone.
● Once you've registered, mark your drone with your registration number in case it gets lost or
stolen.
