CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 7, Issue 3 - 39

CHIEF'S CORNER
AS A CFI, YOU MAY BE ASKED TO VALIDATE A PART 61 CERTIFICATE HOLDER'S
IDENTIFICATION AS PART OF THEIR REMOTE PILOT APPLICATION PROCESS.

sUAS operator my main concerns were where
and when I could fly the drone and what safety
precautions I needed to take. Kat also made sure I
was aware of AOPA's drone page (aopa.org/gofly/aircraft-and-ownership/drones), which
includes podcasts, stories, and quick tips.
As a CFI, you may be asked to validate a Part 61
certificate holder's identification as part of their
remote pilot application process. This process
is described in detail in Chapter 6, paragraph
4.2 of AC 107-2 (www.faa.gov/uas/media/
AC_107-2_AFS-1_Signed.pdf ). Simply put,
you'll review their FAA form 8710-13-either
online in IACRA or a paper copy-their Part 107
sUAS course completion certificate, and proof
of a current flight review. FAA form 8710-13 is
signed after you verify the applicant's identity.

The applicant will receive an email from the FAA
with instructions to download their temporary
certificate if they're submitting the application in
IACRA.
Unfortunately, the drone that Kat planned to lend
me for the Wood Badge training course was never
going to fly again. That Parrot had expired, so to
speak. Her other drones are significantly more
expensive and not suited to lend out to a novice,
like me, so I asked for her recommendations and
went about purchasing a drone of my own. Thank
heavens for big box stores with online ordering
and in-store pickup. At lunch I went out and
picked up my very first drone!
Of course, they never come ready to fly right out
of the box, so I read the quick-fly instructions

while the battery was charging. I also downloaded
the operator app onto my iPad, went online to
register the drone with the FAA, and scrounged a
label maker and marked the drone with my new
registration number. Ninety minutes later, it was
time to test my skills.
After installing the battery and making the Wi-Fi
connection between iPad and drone, it was time
to see what all the fuss was about. A simple press
of the takeoff button and wow...that sucker was
noisy. It was heading right for me at ankle level!
Now granted, a cubicle is not the best place to try
out a quad-copter, but I work on the grounds of
a towered airport and hadn't yet coordinated an
outside practice run with the tower, so I felt this
was the best plan. It took a few tries to get the
hang of taking off and landing. I could even get

http://www.aopa.org/go-fly/aircraft-and-ownership/drones http://www.aopa.org/go-fly/aircraft-and-ownership/drones http://www.faa.gov/uas/media/AC_107-2_AFS-1_Signed.pdf http://www.faa.gov/uas/media/AC_107-2_AFS-1_Signed.pdf

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 7, Issue 3