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.
38episodes
Episodes
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FAA Part 107 Drone Exam Prep 50, Detect and Avoid (DAA) and BVLOS Foundations
2w ago00:03:12Tap 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 Detect and Avoid (DAA) technology is and its foundational role in drone operations. - Why DAA is a mandatory component for obtaining a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver under Part 107. - How the right-of-way rule in §107.37 always requires a drone to yield to manned aircraft, regardless of its DAA system. - The most common exam trap: mistakenly believing that an advanced DAA system grants a drone the right-of-way. - The functional pillars of a DAA system, from initial detection to returning to the original flight path. 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 49, Standard Remote ID vs Broadcast Modules
2w ago00:02:55Tap 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: - Standard Remote ID is built into a drone and broadcasts the control station's live, dynamic location. - A Remote ID Broadcast Module is an add-on for older drones that only broadcasts the initial take-off location. - A common FAA Part 107 exam trap involves scenarios where the pilot moves after takeoff; you must know which location (control station vs. takeoff) is being broadcast. - The mnemonic "Standard Sends the Station, Module Marks the Memory" helps differentiate the two systems. - Flying exclusively within an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) is the primary exception to the Remote ID rule. 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 48, Night Vision Physiology — Autokinetic Effect and Illusions
3w ago00:02:57Tap 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 autokinetic effect is when a stationary light appears to move; mitigate it by continuously scanning the sky and not fixating on the light. - Recognize night illusions like the false horizon, where sloping clouds or ground lights are mistaken for the actual horizon, leading to disorientation. - Optimal dark adaptation for night vision takes approximately 30 minutes, a key testable fact on the FAA Part 107 exam. - Preserve night vision by using a red flashlight and avoiding bright white lights from phones or other sources before and during a flight. - Physiological factors like age, fatigue, smoking, and altitude can significantly impair your night vision capabilities. 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 47, Night Operations — Anti-Collision Lighting
3w ago00:03:46Tap 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: - Anti-collision lights are mandatory for all drone operations during civil twilight and at night, as per 14 CFR Part 107.29. - The lights must be visible for a minimum of 3 statute miles, a specific number frequently tested on the exam. - The required flash rate is defined by its purpose—being sufficient to avoid a collision—not by a specific number of flashes per minute. - A common exam trap is to confuse the single required anti-collision light with the red, green, and white navigation lights used on manned aircraft. - The Remote Pilot in Command has the authority to reduce the light's intensity for safety, such as preserving night vision, but cannot turn it off completely during the operation. 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 46, Vision and Scanning Techniques
3w ago00:03:21Tap 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 FAA-approved method for systematically scanning the sky in 10-degree segments. - How empty field myopia creates a hazard by causing your eyes to lose focus at a distance. - The different roles of central and peripheral vision in detecting and identifying air traffic. - The correct technique of looking slightly off-center to spot objects in low-light conditions. - Why sunglasses can reduce contrast and which lens color is recommended for pilots. 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 45, Physiology — Hypoxia, Fatigue, Stress, Dehydration
3w ago00:03:49Tap 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: - Why hypoxia symptoms are tested on the Part 107 exam, even though drone pilots operate from the ground. - How to differentiate between the nearly identical symptoms of hypoxia and hyperventilation, a common exam trap. - That the FAA equates the impact of acute fatigue on judgment and reaction time to that of alcohol impairment. - How stress can cause attentional narrowing, or 'tunnel vision,' leading a pilot to miss critical hazards. - That even mild dehydration, as little as 1.5% body water loss, can significantly degrade a pilot's cognitive performance. 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 44, Emergency Procedures — Flyaways, Fire, Lost Link
3w ago00:03:18Tap 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: - A flyaway is an unresponsive drone; the first action is to switch to ATTI mode to attempt to regain manual control. - A lost link is a communication failure where the drone should follow its pre-set Return-to-Home (RTH) procedure. - Never use water on a LiPo battery fire; the correct response is a Class D extinguisher or smothering it with sand. - Pre-flight planning is critical, including setting a safe RTH altitude to clear all potential obstacles. - Exam questions often create scenarios to test if you can distinguish between a flyaway and a lost link and choose the appropriate response. 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 43, Lost Link Procedures and Failsafe Settings
3w ago00:03:11Tap 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: - A "lost link" is the loss of the command-and-control signal, and your pre-programmed failsafe setting determines the drone's action. - The three common failsafe options are Return-to-Home (RTH), hover, and land-in-place. - Your Return-to-Home (RTH) altitude must always be set higher than the tallest obstacle in your flight operation area. - The Remote Pilot in Command (PIC) is ultimately responsible for the outcome of a lost link event, even if automated procedures are active. - A lost link that results in serious injury or property damage over $500 may require an accident report to the FAA within 10 days under Part 107.9. 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 42, Right of Way Rules — Yielding to Manned Aircraft
3w ago00:02:44Tap 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: - Why a small unmanned aircraft must always yield right-of-way to all other aircraft under FAA Part 107.37. - The absolute responsibility of the Remote Pilot in Command to 'see and avoid' manned aircraft. - Correct procedures for handling a converging course with another aircraft during an exam scenario. - Common exam traps involving scenarios where manned aircraft appear to be operating unusually. - A memorable phrase to ensure you always remember to yield and take evasive action. 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 41, Crew Resource Management for Drones
4w ago00:04:11Tap 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: - That Crew Resource Management (CRM) applies even to solo pilots through the effective use of resources like checklists and weather apps. - The Remote Pilot in Command (PIC) is responsible for conducting a thorough pre-flight briefing to ensure all crew members understand their roles and emergency procedures. - How to apply the "sterile cockpit" rule, which prohibits non-essential conversations during critical phases of flight to minimize distractions. - Why the Remote PIC always has the final authority and responsibility for the operation, even when encouraging open communication among the crew. - How to use the PAVE mnemonic (Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures) as a practical tool to manage resources and mitigate risks before every flight. 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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