https://www.nar.org/high-power-rocketry-info/understanding-faa-regulations/
When operating Class 2-High Power Rockets or Class 3-Advanced High Power Rockets, you must comply with the General Operating Limitations of §101.23. In addition, you must not operate Class 2-High Power Rockets or Class 3-Advanced High Power Rockets—
(a) At any altitude where clouds or obscuring phenomena of more than five tenths coverage prevails;
(b) At any altitude where the horizontal visibility is less than five miles;
(c) Into any cloud;
(d) Between sunset and sunrise without prior authorization from the FAA;
(e) Within 9.26 kilometers (5 nautical miles) of any airport boundary without prior authorization from the FAA;
(f) In controlled airspace without prior authorization from the FAA;
(g) Unless you observe the greater of the following separation distances from any person or property that is not associated with the operations applies:
(1) Not less than one quarter the maximum expected altitude;
(2) 457 meters (1,500 ft.);
(h) Unless a person at least eighteen years old is present, is charged with ensuring the safety of the operation, and has final approval authority for initiating high-power rocket flight; and
(i) Unless reasonable precautions are provided to report and control a fire caused by rocket activities.
Also, Steve Shannon posted this in the Tripoli group on Facebook:
Steve Shannon
Moderator ·
November 10, 2018
Twice within the past two weeks Tripoli members have posted videos of flights which show onboard video of the rocket passing through the clouds. In both cases I mentioned it, either in a comment or in a private message. Both times I was told that the video makes the cloud coverage appear greater than it actually was.
In one case it was a Level 3 cert flight.
So, here’s the deal. The FAA and our Safety Codes specifically say not to launch into clouds and not to launch at all if the cloud coverage for the altitude you may be flying has greater than 50% coverage. Their rules do not say “except if the clouds are wispy.” Neither would our insurance carrier.
If you post a video that appears to show a violation of that or any other Safety Code, I’ll ask the administrators to remove it. I understand that videos and photographs don’t always tell the whole story, but it’s up to you to make sure that the video you post does not misrepresent what actually occurred.
If it’s a certification flight and if I talk to someone with first hand knowledge who verifies a code violation, I’ll take action at the board level to cancel the certification. If I find TAPs who allow the practice of launching into clouds (and I really hope I don’t) I’ll discuss it with the TAP Chair and those TAPs could be suspended from the TAP Committee. Likewise for Prefects.
Level 3 candidates are expected to know and follow all of the rules, whether those embodied by our Safety Codes, FAA FAR 101, or NFPA 1127. Directors, TAPs, and Prefects are required to enforce those rules.
