TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2026 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE^*

OFFICERS

Chair: Joel M. Jundt, Secretary of Transportation, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Pierre

Vice Chair: Randell Iwasaki, President and CEO, Iwasaki Consulting Services, Walnut Creek, CA

Executive Director: Victoria Sheehan, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC

MEMBERS

James F. Albaugh, President and CEO, The Boeing Company (retired), Scottsdale, AZ

Marsha Anderson Bomar, Strategic Transportation Advisor, GHD, Duluth, GA

Douglas C. Ceva, Vice President, Customer Lead Solutions, Prologis, Inc., Jupiter, FL

Nancy Daubenberger, Commissioner of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul

Garrett Eucalitto, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Newington

Andrew Fremier, Executive Director, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, San Francisco, CA

Martha Grabowski, Professor Emerita, Information Systems, Le Moyne College, Madden College of Business and Economics, Cazenovia, NY

Edward Hassinger, Director, Missouri Department of Transportation, Jefferson City

Shante Hastings, Cabinet Secretary, Delaware Department of Transportation, Dover

Carol A. Lewis, Professor, Transportation Studies, Texas Southern University, Houston

Ricardo Martinez, Adjunct Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Decatur, GA

Russell McMurry, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta

Craig E. Philip, Research Professor and Director, VECTOR, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Steward T.A. Pickett, Distinguished Senior Scientist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY

Leslie S. Richards, Professor of Practice, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Tracy Larkin Thomason, Director, Nevada Department of Transportation, Carson City

Marc Williams, Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation, Austin

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS

Derek Barrs, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Washington, DC

Steven G. Bradbury, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

Stephen Carmel, Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration, Washington, DC

Tara Cavalline, Professor, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and Chair, TRB Technical Activities Council

David Fink, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC

Firas Ibrahim, Director, Office of Research, Development, and Technology, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, Washington, DC

Jason Kelly, Deputy Commanding General for Civil Works and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC

Sandra Knight, President, WaterWonks, LLC, Washington, DC, and Chair, TRB Marine Board

Sean McMaster, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC

Marcus J. Molinaro, Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

Jonathan Morrison, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC

Seval Oz, Senior Advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, Washington, DC

Niloo Parvinashtiani, Engineer, Mobility Consultant Solutions, Iteris Inc., Fairfax, VA, and Chair, TRB Young Participants Council

Paul Roberti, Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Washington, DC

Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC

Jim Tymon, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, DC

__________________________

^* Membership as of February 2026.

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1173

UAS Flight Proficiency Examination

PROCTOR GUIDE FOR PROPS TEST

Joseph M. Burgett

Clemson University

Clemson, SC

and

Paul Wheeler

WSP USA Inc.

Salt Lake City, UT

Subscriber Categories

Aviation • Administration and Management • Education and Training

Research sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration

2026

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

Systematic, well-designed, and implementable research is the most effective way to solve many problems facing state department of transportation (DOT) administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local or regional interest and can best be studied by state DOTs individually or in cooperation with their state universities and others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transportation results in increasingly complex problems of wide interest to highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a coordinated program of cooperative research.

Recognizing this need, the leadership of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1962 initiated an objective national highway research program using modern scientific techniques—the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). NCHRP is supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating member states of AASHTO and receives the full cooperation and support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department of Transportation.

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine was requested by AASHTO to administer the research program because of TRBʼs recognized objectivity and understanding of modern research practices. TRB is uniquely suited for this purpose for many reasons: TRB maintains an extensive committee structure from which authorities on any highway transportation subject may be drawn; TRB possesses avenues of communications and cooperation with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, universities, and industry; TRBʼs relationship to the National Academies is an insurance of objectivity; and TRB maintains a full-time staff of specialists in highway transportation matters to bring the findings of research directly to those in a position to use them.

The program is developed on the basis of research needs identified by chief administrators and other staff of the highway and transportation departments, by committees of AASHTO, and by the FHWA. Topics of the highest merit are selected by the AASHTO Special Committee on Research and Innovation (R&I), and each year R&Iʼs recommendations are proposed to the AASHTO Board of Directors, the FHWA, and the National Academies. Research projects to address these topics are defined by NCHRP, and qualified research agencies are selected from submitted proposals. Administration and oversight of research contracts are the responsibilities of NCHRP.

The needs for highway research are many, and NCHRP can make significant contributions to solving highway transportation problems of mutual concern to many responsible groups. The program, however, is intended to complement, rather than to substitute for or duplicate, other highway research programs.

NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1173

Project 20-44(47)
ISSN 2572-3766 (Print)
ISSN 2572-3774 (Online)
ISBN 978-0-309-60305-8
Library of Congress Control Number 2026934535

© 2026 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Authors herein are responsible for the originality and accuracy of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) grants permission to reproduce written material in this publication for classroom and non-commercial purposes subject to the rights of any third parties and appropriate attribution. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply NAS, TRB, AASHTO, APTA, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, or NHTSA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. For other uses of the written material, users must request permission from the National Academies Press.

NOTICE

The research report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

This material is based upon work supported by the FHWA under Agreement No. 693JJ32350025. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed or implied in this document are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the FHWA; or the program sponsors.

The Transportation Research Board does not develop, issue, or publish standards or specifications. The Transportation Research Board manages applied research projects which provide the scientific foundation that may be used by Transportation Research Board sponsors, industry associations, or other organizations as the basis for revised practices, procedures, or specifications.

The Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and the sponsors of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturersʼ names or logos appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report.

Published research reports of the

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

are available from

National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

(800) 624-6242

and can be ordered through the internet by going to

nationalacademies.org/publications

Printed in the United States of America

The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. Tsu-Jae Liu is president.

The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president.

The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.

Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.

The Transportation Research Board is one of four centers of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to mobilize expertise, experience, and knowledge to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges. The Board’s varied activities annually engage more than 5,500 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state departments of transportation, federal agencies including component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation.

Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS

CRP STAFF FOR NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1173

Monique R. Evans, Director, Cooperative Research Programs

Waseem Dekelbab, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs, and Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program

Sid Mohan, Senior Program Officer

Kevin Padilla, Senior Program Assistant

Natalie Barnes, Director of Publications

Brian Haefs, Associate Director of Publications

Janet M. McNaughton, Senior Editor

NCHRP PROJECT 20-44(47) PANEL
Field of Special Projects

Riley Lindsay, Utah Department of Transportation, Monroe, UT (Chair)

Larry Joseph Dean, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Pierre, SD

Evan Robinson, Vermont Agency of Transportation, Barre, VT

Sergio Roman, Texas Department of Transportation, Austin, TX

Sheri Taylor, Wyoming Department of Transportation, Cheyenne, WY

Nastasja von Conta, HMMH, Oakland, CA

James Gray, FHWA Liaison

Autumn Fields, AASHTO Liaison

FOREWORD

By Sid Mohan
Staff Officer
Transportation Research Board

NCHRP Research Report 1173: UAS Flight Proficiency Examination: Proctor Guide for PROPS Test provides instructions and scoring procedures for applying the standardized evaluation criteria for the Pilot Readiness and Operational Proficiency Standardized (PROPS) Test. Both the guide and the test were developed through iterative design phases, independent reviews, and structured feedback from state department of transportation (DOT) personnel. The guide and PROPS Test will be of particular interest to state DOTs, aviation program managers, and policymakers responsible for UAS operations and workforce certification.

Unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) support a wide range of state DOT activities, including surveying, inspection, construction, and emergency management. Most state DOTs operate under 14 CFR Part 107 rules, which require pilots to pass a knowledge exam. However, this exam focuses only on knowledge and does not include a practical flight skills test. The lack of a verified flight proficiency component poses a barrier and potential liability for states that wish to use drones. Research was needed to help state DOT UAS pilots demonstrate the practical flight skills that complement the 14 CFR Part 107 knowledge exam.

Under NCHRP Project 20-44(47), “UAS Operations Practical Skills Pilot Program for State DOTs,” Clemson University was tasked with developing methods to help state DOTs evaluate and certify their UAS pilots. The research included

• Developing initial flight proficiency standards for UAS pilots,
• Creating methods to assess field operations and aircraft control aspects of flight proficiency,
• Piloting the flight proficiency and testing framework with state DOT personnel, and
• Training state DOT UAS leaders on how to use the flight proficiency guide.

The final conduct of research report for NCHRP Project 20-44(47) is available on the project web page, https://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5384. The text of the Pilot Readiness and Operational Proficiency Standardized (PROPS) Test is available on the National Academies Press website (nationalacademies.org/publications) by searching for NCHRP Research Report 1173: UAS Flight Proficiency Examination: Proctor Guide for PROPS Test.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Introduction

Recommendations for State DOT Flight Proficiency Certification

Structure of Assessment

Chapter 2 Proctor Instructions for Administering the Examination

Mission Site and Environmental Conditions

Assessment Criteria

Question Evaluation

Clarifications, Assumptions, and Limitations

Chapter 3 Flight Proficiency Assessment Questions

Part 1: Mission Planning

Part 2: Aircraft Capabilities and Functionality

Part 3: Check Ride

Part 4: Flight Control Assessment

Acronyms

Glossary

Appendix A NIST sUAS Open Test Lane Fabrication Guide

Appendix B Obstruction Cube Fabrication Guide

Appendix C ASTM F3266 Sections Addressed in UAG Exam

Appendix D ASTM F3266 Sections Not Assessed with PROPS Test