Podcast
Trades Exam Prep
Hosted by Ran Chen, EA, CFP® · EN
Trades Exam Prep is a free, daily podcast by OpenExamPrep covering the most in-demand skilled trades licensing and certification exams — including EPA 608 (HVAC refrigerant), FAA Part 107 (drone), Master Electrician, Plumber, General Contractor, ASE automotive, NATE, OSHA 10/30, Welder Certification, and more. Each 5-minute episode breaks down one exam topic with concrete examples, common exam traps, code references, and field-ready memory tricks to help you pass on your first attempt. No fluff, no filler — just the concepts you need to know, explained the way the exam tests them. This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation for everyone — from journeyman to master license, from apprentices to seasoned tradespeople. For free practice questions, AI-powered explanations, flashcards, and full study guides, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ Subscribe and listen daily — your license is closer than you think.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 22, Special Use Airspace — Prohibited, Restricted, MOAs
Yesterday00:03:29Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The absolute prohibition of flying in Prohibited Areas (P-) for Part 107 operators and why there are no exceptions. - How to determine if a Restricted Area (R-) is active by checking sectional chart notes and the requirement to get permission from the controlling agency. - The critical exam distinction between MOAs and Restricted Areas: entry into an MOA is allowed but requires extreme caution, while entry into an active Restricted Area is forbidden without permission. - How to identify these five types of Special Use Airspace on a sectional chart using their hatched borders and alphanumeric identifiers. - The mnemonic "Please Remember Why My Alerts matter" to recall the rules for Prohibited, Restricted, Warning, MOA, and Alert Areas. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 21, LAANC — Automatic Authorization
2d ago00:03:17Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - What LAANC is and which specific types of controlled airspace it applies to (Class B, C, D, and surface E). - How UAS Facility Maps (UASFM) dictate the pre-approved altitude ceilings for automatic authorization. - The critical difference between an automatic LAANC authorization and a request requiring further coordination. - Common exam traps, such as misapplying LAANC to Class G airspace or misunderstanding a '0' altitude grid. - The process of using an approved third-party application to submit a LAANC request for near-real-time approval. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 20, Latitude, Longitude, and Chart Scale
3d ago00:03:24Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To differentiate latitude (flat, east-west lines measuring north-south) from longitude (long, north-south lines measuring east-west). - The method for reading degrees and minutes on a sectional chart to pinpoint a location's coordinates for an exam question. - To understand the 1:500,000 scale on a VFR sectional chart and its real-world translation to nautical and statute miles. - The practical steps for measuring distance between two points using the plotter scale provided in the FAA testing supplement. - How to avoid common exam traps, such as confusing nautical miles with statute miles when answering distance questions. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 19, Reading Sectional Charts — Symbols and Colors
4d ago00:03:01Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Solid blue lines represent Class B airspace, while solid magenta lines represent Class C airspace. - Dashed blue lines indicate Class D airspace starting at the surface; dashed magenta lines show Class E airspace starting at the surface. - A fuzzy, shaded magenta vignette means Class E airspace begins at 700 feet AGL, with Class G airspace below it. - Blue airport icons signify an airport with a control tower, whereas magenta icons denote an airport without one. - The mnemonic 'Blue is for Busy' helps recall that blue symbols relate to the busiest, most controlled airspaces and airports. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 18, Class E and Class G Airspace
5d ago00:03:54Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to identify Class E airspace starting at 700 ft AGL (magenta vignette) versus 1,200 ft AGL on a sectional chart. - The critical difference between a fuzzy magenta border and a dashed magenta line, and when LAANC authorization is required. - Why most Part 107 flights occur in Class G airspace and what that means for authorization. - The specific weather and cloud clearance minimums (3 statute miles visibility, 500 feet below clouds) that apply even in uncontrolled Class G airspace. - A simple mnemonic to avoid common exam traps related to Class E and G chart symbols. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 17, Class C and Class D Airspace
6d ago00:04:14Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To identify Class C airspace by its solid magenta lines and Class D by its dashed blue lines on a sectional chart. - To understand the 'upside-down wedding cake' structure of Class C airspace, with its surface core and outer shelf. - To recognize the typical dimensions of Class D airspace and how its ceiling is marked in feet MSL. - How to avoid the common exam trap of confusing Mean Sea Level (MSL) with Above Ground Level (AGL) for airspace ceilings. - That LAANC authorization is required for Part 107 drone flights in both Class C and Class D airspace. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 16, Class B Airspace — Where and Why
1w ago00:03:30Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to identify Class B airspace on a sectional chart by its solid blue lines. - The meaning of the "upside-down wedding cake" structure and how to read its altitude floors and ceilings in MSL. - The absolute requirement for FAA authorization, primarily through LAANC, before any drone operation within Class B airspace. - How UAS Facility Maps dictate the maximum pre-approved flight altitudes for LAANC authorizations. - Common exam traps, including the critical difference between MSL and AGL altitudes and misidentifying airspace boundaries. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 15, Airspace Class Overview — A Through G
1w ago00:03:48Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The fundamental difference between controlled (A, B, C, D, E) and uncontrolled (G) airspace for Part 107 drone operations. - How to identify the chart symbology for each airspace class, such as solid blue lines for Class B and dashed blue lines for Class D. - Which airspace classes always require LAANC authorization for drone flight, specifically Classes B, C, D, and surface-level Class E. - Common Part 107 exam traps, including the critical distinction between altitudes measured in Mean Sea Level (MSL) and Above Ground Level (AGL). - The specific rules for Class E airspace and how to determine its floor based on faded or dashed magenta lines on a sectional chart. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 14, The Waiver Process — FAA Form 7711-2
1w ago00:03:39Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The specific Part 107 regulations that are eligible for a Certificate of Waiver, such as operating beyond visual line of sight or from a moving vehicle. - The critical regulations that can NEVER be waived, including the 55-pound maximum weight limit and the prohibition on careless operations. - The crucial difference between a long-lead-time waiver and a near-real-time LAANC airspace authorization, a common exam confusion point. - The requirement to submit a detailed safety case via the FAA DroneZone portal, proving an equivalent level of safety for your proposed operation. - The typical 90-day processing time for waivers and why this makes last-minute waived operations impossible. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 13, Careless, Reckless, and Hazardous Operations
1w ago00:03:20Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - §107.23 prohibits both careless/reckless flying and dropping objects that create an undue hazard to people or property. - The FAA exam will test your ability to distinguish between careless (negligent) and reckless (willful disregard for safety) actions in operational scenarios. - Under §107.19 and §107.37, a small unmanned aircraft must always yield the right-of-way to all other aircraft, without any exceptions. - Exam questions often present scenarios with unpredictable manned aircraft; as the Remote PIC, your responsibility is always to see, avoid, and yield. - A helpful mnemonic, "Drones Don't Dominate," reinforces that drones are at the bottom of the aviation hierarchy and must give way to all other airborne vehicles. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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