There is NO studying REQUIRED for the higher qualification of L1 certification.
I used “studying” loosely. Perusing online forums, reading technical documentation, fooling around a bit in OR, even just reading the instructions closely in a kit build.
Strictly speaking, time on the LPR/MPR range would also qualify.
None of these have to be hard or time-intensive.
You seem to be REQUIRING that in your version of your examination of the candidate.
Not at all.
If I knew the candidate well and knew they had the knowledge to fly safely, it’d be a no-brainer to witness. But if I didn’t, my natural interest in other people’s rockets would inevitably lead to a conversation with the candidate about their certification planning process. If the candidate could not walk me through it, that would be a problem.
At a minimum, a candidate should be able to show, demonstrate, or discuss their rocket’s motor retention, stability, initial guidance, anticipated recovery characteristics, and motor selection knowledgeably.
Anyone who has spent any amount of time at a low-power range, or has pursued independent study, or who is working with a competent, qualified mentor, or who read the instructions on the product they’re using, would be able to do this.
The conversation might look and sound something like this:
“May I take a look at your rocket?”
“Sure!”
*verifies motor retention visually
*verifies presence of appropriately-sized launch lugs, rail hardware, or visual evidence the candidate has brought some other system like a tower
“How high do you think it will go?”
“I’m aiming for 1700 ft. That’s roughly what the sims spit out and it tracks with the test flight I did with a G80.”
…and so on. Softballs. Casual range talk between a guy showing off his rocket to an impressed (or concerned) onlooker.
The goal would not be to administer the L2 test, the goal would be to determine the candidate’s preparedness for exploring the ins and outs of L1.
However, if the candidate were to reply with something way off-base like “No clue. We’ll find out, won’t we?”, that would be cause for concern. I would ask that candidate to explore a bit with whatever tools they have at their disposal to figure out the solutions to
essential range safety considerations, and if I found it prudent I may even offer a nudge in the right direction. The candidate could either accept that and have me on their team, or certify with somebody else.
If gaining the requisite knowledge means they would have to go through the launch event without certifying…tough luck. They can learn from it and plan better.
The way I see it, a certification witness in this situation can either weed out or foster. High-power launches are fun and I have no intention of pulling up the ladder behind me once I’m there. But when the cards are down and my name is on the paperwork, I want no part in the causality chain of a disastrous flight that should not have been made. Big rockets can bite.
But don't do it and then say your rocket is the wrong colour.
Your imagined scenarios are nothing of the sort I have any intention of being part of. They are entirely hypothetical and academic, fully invented by you, and not grounded in any sort of reality I have ever witnessed on the range.
As a side-note: paint scheme would be a valid topic of conversation. Accurate military camouflage or nature patterns can make a rocket hard to see. Asking a candidate who has painted a rocket this way if they have thought of and planned for that is valid. I don’t think I would refuse witnessing on that but the candidate may decide some further work is in order.
The RSO and the LCO, examine the rocket and make the decision whether to launch or not. Not the witness.
It is the witness’s decision whether to be part of a certification team. You are confusing my hypothetical willingness to deny witnessing with my willingness to interfere with range personnel. Review my position again, I never made any such implication. That’s not how certification
works.
Perhaps have a chat with your local LCO or RSO regarding variable examination standards at your next launch.
No.
Safety distances and procedures, RSO and LCO keep things safe.
Range safety is a universal responsibility. I have shouted “wait!” during final countdown on one occasion: the matter was cleared up in about 5 seconds and the rocket went off without a hitch.
I’ve also put people in the know regarding site-specific safety rules. Always gently of course, I just work under the assumption they missed the safety meeting.
And for any certification flight I've ever witnessed, HEADS UP would be announced.
ROC (my de facto primary HPR club) has flight cards for certification flights printed on red paper. They don’t make a lot of hoopla about it, they just ask why the card is red (to make sure it’s not for some other reason) and certification witnesses are called up over the PA.
my 50c worth.
I'm done on this subject now. Hooray.
Ends.
Me too. Please don’t bring this drivel here again, I’m so tired.