When you walk into your FAA remote pilot knowledge test, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by charts, figures, and symbols you’re expected to interpret. But one of the most important tools, and the core drone pilot trick for reading sectionals, is right in front of you: the FAA testing supplement.
This supplement includes real-world sectional chart information, legends, and airport details. The FAA provides it because they want to test your ability to use real navigation resources, not just memorize symbols.
How to Use Legends and Figures to Read Sectional Charts
Let’s break down a common example you might see:
“Which frequency should be used as a CTAF to monitor traffic at Coeur d’Alene Airport?”
Most would flip immediately to Figure 22. It’s a good start, but not enough.
The real drone pilot trick for reading sectionals is knowing to check Legend 1 first. The legend shows you exactly how CTAF frequencies are marked on sectional charts: with a small “C” next to the frequency.
Now, when you look back at the figure, you’ll quickly spot 122.8 MHz printed next to Coeur d’Alene, answer choice C.
Even better, Figure 31 in the supplement includes the airport’s chart supplement entry, which clearly lists CTAF 122.8. This redundancy is intentional. The FAA wants to see how efficiently you use the resources provided.
Practice Using the FAA Testing Supplement Before Test Day
You don’t need to memorize every symbol; you just need to know where to find the information quickly. That’s the essence of the drone pilot trick for reading sectionals: use the legend, use the figures, and let the supplement guide you to the right answer.
Spend a little time flipping through the supplement before test day, and you’ll walk into the exam with real confidence instead of guesswork.
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