Before I open this thread I feel I should make it perfectly clear this activity, while a fantastic experence is ILLEGAL unless done with a full FAA waiver specifically for Night Activity. My concern is some of the younger folks or visitors to this forum may think this is such a cool idea they'll rush out and "just do it" Please folks, Lets not tick off the FAA or others.
Here's the legal skinny on Night launches:
Far 101 subpartC section 101.23 operating limitations, Prohibits the launching of unmanned rockets or balloons between the hours of Sunset and Sunraise. Sunset As defined by the FAA East Coast Regional Office is: When the sun sets below the western "visible" horizon. To most of us this is refered to as "twilight", Not even close to dark.
Our club first approached the FAA about Night flying in the spring of 1996. FAA's first question was "what exactly to you hope to accomplish with these night time operations." That set us back for awaile. I think it took another month or so to get the paperwork FAA requested in a form that didn't seem to say "Hay. we just wanta see rockets fly at night." Our theme and documentation was to " advance the state of the art in Night Illumination Tracking Equipment and demonstrate there use." the "NITE" thing was borrowed from an article in SR but I can't remember the year.
Narhams committed to looking for ways in increase the brightness and visibility of Night launched model rockets. We developed and finally had approved by FAA a set of guidelines to set up and run a Night Launch seheduled for later that year. We have these guideline on our website if you are interested www.narhams.org. FAA limited our models to G motors and reduced our normal 3500' ceiling to 2500 feet, they also required all models to have an external illumination system clearly visible a 2000 feet. We as a club looked at all the available illumination system Cylume sticks, Phospherescents, Filiment bulbs, LED's, Luminescent sheeting and Strobes, as well as different battery power sources. We made a collective determination that Cylume sticks and other "Glo- in- the- Dark" materials would be limited to use in models powered by B motors or below. Over the years this has proved to be a good decision. It became apparent quickly the Red LED's in the 500mcd range and above do a wonderful job. Many combinations and systems have been divised over the last 7 years and have become cheaper and easier to fly.. I have even LED's illuminated an old Estes UFO "Snitch to you newer folks)
Our Night range is set up with a perimeter tagged with cylumes and the Launch Racks and launchers are fitted with ruby red lens covered 20watt halogen bulbs to help with after dark igniter hook ups (one of the major problem areas) anyone with a flashlight at the range is issued a ruby red lens cover to preserve everyones Night Vision and 4 point lookouts are posted to scan the skies for ANY aircraft entering the airspace. We are to hold launches until the craft "At any Altitude" clears our airspace. also per our friends at the FAA we are in contact with the closest control tower to the field, BWT in our case.
It takes a good bit of planning and a a lot of cooperation on the part of the flyers and spectators to have a good Night Launch but it is something you will not forget. We have had a Ball with these events of the past few years, we even have glider flights. We usually combine the Night launch with a Late day (noon or later) starting sport launch and a "dinner Picnic" on the field.
Are there other clubs or Orginizations our there that have flown Night launches?
I'll post a couple Pics to get the discussion started
Here's the legal skinny on Night launches:
Far 101 subpartC section 101.23 operating limitations, Prohibits the launching of unmanned rockets or balloons between the hours of Sunset and Sunraise. Sunset As defined by the FAA East Coast Regional Office is: When the sun sets below the western "visible" horizon. To most of us this is refered to as "twilight", Not even close to dark.
Our club first approached the FAA about Night flying in the spring of 1996. FAA's first question was "what exactly to you hope to accomplish with these night time operations." That set us back for awaile. I think it took another month or so to get the paperwork FAA requested in a form that didn't seem to say "Hay. we just wanta see rockets fly at night." Our theme and documentation was to " advance the state of the art in Night Illumination Tracking Equipment and demonstrate there use." the "NITE" thing was borrowed from an article in SR but I can't remember the year.
Narhams committed to looking for ways in increase the brightness and visibility of Night launched model rockets. We developed and finally had approved by FAA a set of guidelines to set up and run a Night Launch seheduled for later that year. We have these guideline on our website if you are interested www.narhams.org. FAA limited our models to G motors and reduced our normal 3500' ceiling to 2500 feet, they also required all models to have an external illumination system clearly visible a 2000 feet. We as a club looked at all the available illumination system Cylume sticks, Phospherescents, Filiment bulbs, LED's, Luminescent sheeting and Strobes, as well as different battery power sources. We made a collective determination that Cylume sticks and other "Glo- in- the- Dark" materials would be limited to use in models powered by B motors or below. Over the years this has proved to be a good decision. It became apparent quickly the Red LED's in the 500mcd range and above do a wonderful job. Many combinations and systems have been divised over the last 7 years and have become cheaper and easier to fly.. I have even LED's illuminated an old Estes UFO "Snitch to you newer folks)
Our Night range is set up with a perimeter tagged with cylumes and the Launch Racks and launchers are fitted with ruby red lens covered 20watt halogen bulbs to help with after dark igniter hook ups (one of the major problem areas) anyone with a flashlight at the range is issued a ruby red lens cover to preserve everyones Night Vision and 4 point lookouts are posted to scan the skies for ANY aircraft entering the airspace. We are to hold launches until the craft "At any Altitude" clears our airspace. also per our friends at the FAA we are in contact with the closest control tower to the field, BWT in our case.
It takes a good bit of planning and a a lot of cooperation on the part of the flyers and spectators to have a good Night Launch but it is something you will not forget. We have had a Ball with these events of the past few years, we even have glider flights. We usually combine the Night launch with a Late day (noon or later) starting sport launch and a "dinner Picnic" on the field.
Are there other clubs or Orginizations our there that have flown Night launches?
I'll post a couple Pics to get the discussion started
