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Classifying the urge to impress under the PAVE checklist

Remote Pilot (Part 107) practice question 14 of 15 on Operations / Aeronautical Decision-Making. ACS element UA.V.D.K5 · difficulty: applied. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Remote Pilot (Part 107) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONBefore a flight, a remote pilot feels a strong urge to impress a spectator with a difficult maneuver. Under the PAVE checklist described in the study guide, this influence belongs to which risk category?

  1. AExternal pressures
  2. BPilot-in-command
  3. CAircraft limitations
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. External pressures

  • A — correct The study guide lists the desire to impress someone, illustrated by the words "Watch this!", among the external pressures in the PAVE checklist.
  • B — incorrect The Pilot-in-command category concerns the pilot's experience, recency, currency, and physical and emotional condition; the desire to impress someone is listed under external pressures.
  • C — incorrect The Aircraft category asks what limitations the aircraft imposes on the flight, such as whether it can carry the planned load; it does not cover pressures on the pilot.

BACKGROUND

The PAVE checklist divides the risks of a flight into four categories: Pilot-in-command (PIC), Aircraft, enVironment, and External pressures. The Remote Pilot Study Guide defines external pressures as influences external to the flight that create a sense of pressure to complete a flight, often at the expense of safety. Listed examples include the desire to demonstrate pilot qualifications, the desire to impress someone, the pilot's general goal-completion orientation, and emotional pressure about admitting that skill and experience are lower than the pilot would like. The guide calls management of external pressure the single most important key to risk management because it can cause a pilot to ignore all the other risk factors.

STUDY TIP

Whenever a scenario involves wanting to show off, finish the job, or avoid embarrassment, file it under external pressures in PAVE.

KEY POINTS

  • PAVE stands for Pilot-in-command, Aircraft, enVironment, and External pressures.
  • The desire to impress someone is an external pressure.
  • Managing external pressure is the single most important key to risk management.

SOURCES

  • remote_pilot_study_guide.txt ch10, "The PAVE Checklist" (E = External Pressures)
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.