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Fixation as an obstacle to situational awareness

Remote Pilot (Part 107) practice question 4 of 15 on Operations / Aeronautical Decision-Making. ACS element UA.V.D.K3 · difficulty: standard. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Remote Pilot (Part 107) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONWhile operating a small unmanned aircraft, a fatigued remote pilot concentrates on the camera display and stops monitoring the aircraft's surroundings. According to the study guide, fatigue, stress, and work overload cause this loss of situational awareness by leading the pilot to

  1. Afixate on a single perceived important item.
  2. Bscan too many items and give none of them enough attention.
  3. Crely on the visual observer to fly the aircraft.
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. fixate on a single perceived important item.

  • A — correct The study guide states that fatigue, stress, and work overload can cause a pilot to fixate on a single perceived important item and reduce overall situational awareness of the flight.
  • B — incorrect The study guide describes the opposite effect: attention narrows to one item rather than spreading across too many.
  • C — incorrect The study guide does not describe handing control to a visual observer; the obstacle it identifies is fixation on one item.

BACKGROUND

The Remote Pilot Study Guide identifies obstacles to maintaining situational awareness. Fatigue, stress, and work overload can cause a pilot to fixate on a single perceived important item and reduce overall situational awareness of the flight. The guide also notes that a contributing factor in many accidents is a distraction that diverts the pilot's attention from monitoring the aircraft. Effective workload management and recognizing the onset of overload are the tools the guide offers to counter these obstacles.

STUDY TIP

When you notice yourself locked onto one display or task, treat it as a warning sign of lost situational awareness and widen your scan.

KEY POINTS

  • Fatigue, stress, and work overload lead to fixation on a single item.
  • Fixation reduces overall situational awareness of the flight.
  • Distraction from monitoring the aircraft contributes to many accidents.

SOURCES

  • remote_pilot_study_guide.txt ch10, "Obstacles to Maintaining Situational Awareness"
Practice the Remote Pilot (Part 107) test →Timed 60-question exam, by ACS area, or review your misses. Free.
MORE ON OPERATIONS / AERONAUTICAL DECISION-MAKING

SkyDrill is not affiliated with the FAA. This is an original practice item based on 14 CFR part 107, 14 CFR part 89, and the FAA Remote Pilot – Small UAS Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22). Regulations and handbooks are revised; confirm details against the current edition.