FAA-S-ACS-10 Explained: The Official Standard Behind the Part 107 Exam
Every question on the Part 107 knowledge test traces back to one FAA document: the Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airman Certification Standards, published as FAA-S-ACS-10. If you want to know exactly what the FAA expects you to know, this is the document to open.
The current version: FAA-S-ACS-10B
The FAA amended the original 2016 ACS to add the night-operation and operations-over-people knowledge areas. The version in force today is FAA-S-ACS-10B, effective April 6, 2021 — make sure the PDF you study from says "B" on the cover.
Download the Official FAA-S-ACS-10B PDF (faa.gov) →What the ACS covers
The ACS organizes the entire remote pilot certification standard into areas of operation, and each area into tasks. Every task lists three things: the knowledge elements (what you must know), the risk-management elements (what you must consider), and the skills (what you must be able to do). The written exam samples the knowledge elements; the risk-management elements matter most for real-world flying decisions.
Regulations (14 CFR Part 107)
Operating rules, remote PIC responsibilities, crew roles, waivers, registration, and recurrent training under §107.65.
Airspace classification & operating requirements
Controlled vs uncontrolled airspace, operating in Class B/C/D/E/G, airspace authorizations, and the 49 U.S.C. 44809 recreational exception.
Aviation weather sources & effects
METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, SUA and TFR checks, and how wind, visibility, and density altitude affect a small UAS.
Loading & performance
Weight and balance, center of gravity, and how battery power and payload affect performance and controllability.
Operations, emergency procedures & crew resource management
Preflight inspection, lost-link and emergency procedures, scan techniques, and dividing attention between flying and the mission.
Radio communication procedures
CTAF and tower phraseology, and how to communicate near airports when operating under Part 107.
Aeronautical decision-making, night ops & aeromedical factors
ADM, the IMSAFE checklist, drugs and alcohol rules, and the night-operation requirements added in the 2021 amendment.
How to study with the ACS
- Read the task statements — they are plain-English descriptions of what the FAA will evaluate.
- Check each knowledge element against your study notes; the FAA references the source documents (14 CFR Part 107, the Aeronautical Information Manual, FAA advisory circulars) for each element.
- Practice the application, not just the definitions — the exam presents scenario-style questions built from these elements.
sky107.com structures its eight theory chapters around exactly these areas, with free practice questions and full exam simulations so you can confirm each ACS area before test day.
Frequently asked questions
What is FAA-S-ACS-10?
FAA-S-ACS-10 is the official Airman Certification Standards (ACS) document for the Remote Pilot certificate with a small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) rating. It tells applicants, instructors, and test centers exactly which aeronautical knowledge the FAA evaluates on the Part 107 (UAG) knowledge test.
Is FAA-S-ACS-10 the same as the old Part 107 PTS?
The ACS replaced the older Practical Test Standards (PTS) model for remote pilot certification. Instead of a separate list of test subjects, each task in the ACS combines the knowledge elements, risk-management elements, and skills into a single standard, which is why the exam questions pull directly from these tasks.
Where can I download the FAA-S-ACS-10 PDF?
The FAA publishes the current version, FAA-S-ACS-10B (effective April 6, 2021), for free at faa.gov under Training & Testing > Airman Certification Standards. A direct link to the official PDF is provided below on this page.
Does the Part 107 exam test everything in FAA-S-ACS-10?
The UAG knowledge test samples the knowledge elements from the ACS areas of operation. Practical flying skills are not tested on the written exam, but you are expected to understand the risk-management elements, especially for night operations and operations over people.
Ready to check each ACS area against the real exam?
Take free Part 107 practice questions or follow the 30-day study checklist.