ckjohnson
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2013
- Messages
- 307
- Reaction score
- 0
Hey everyone. I have noticed a few people talking about needing a waiver to fly HPRs. Part of my job is doing waivers and NOTAMs. CFR 14 Part 101 is the section that covers model rockets (Class 1) and HPRs (Class 2 and 3). A waiver is needed to get authorization from the FAA to waive a part of the regulation. For example, aerobatic flight (greater than 60 degrees of bank) is prohibited over the airport, so I have to file a waiver to waive that regulation so that I can have aerobatic performers at an airshow. When launching HPRs, we should only need to file a waiver in one of the following situations:
a) when clouds or anything else (obscuring phenomena) of more than 50% prevails.
b) where the visibility is less than 5 miles.
c) into a cloud
d) at night
e) within 5 nautical miles of an airport boudary
f) in controlled airspace (usually 20 mile radius of a control tower)
g) distance from personnel or property is smaller than 1/4 the maximum altitude or 1,500' (larger of the two)
h) nobody 18 or older is there
i) not taking reasonable precautions to prevent and control fire caused by the rocket.
or, per section 101.23:
If we want to launch a rocket into orbit, launch it into a foreign country, put a person in it, or create a hazard to persons, property, or aircraft. (I will go out on a limb and guess that they are not going to waive those regulations).
So, I guess my question is, unless you are launching within 5 miles of an airport, within controlled airspace, at night, or on a cloudy / foggy day, why do we need a waiver?
Now, I know that we have to notify the nearest ATC of a launch, and issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) of launches, but that is not a waiver. I'm just wondering if HPR launches are not going through more paperwork than necessary.
a) when clouds or anything else (obscuring phenomena) of more than 50% prevails.
b) where the visibility is less than 5 miles.
c) into a cloud
d) at night
e) within 5 nautical miles of an airport boudary
f) in controlled airspace (usually 20 mile radius of a control tower)
g) distance from personnel or property is smaller than 1/4 the maximum altitude or 1,500' (larger of the two)
h) nobody 18 or older is there
i) not taking reasonable precautions to prevent and control fire caused by the rocket.
or, per section 101.23:
If we want to launch a rocket into orbit, launch it into a foreign country, put a person in it, or create a hazard to persons, property, or aircraft. (I will go out on a limb and guess that they are not going to waive those regulations).
So, I guess my question is, unless you are launching within 5 miles of an airport, within controlled airspace, at night, or on a cloudy / foggy day, why do we need a waiver?
Now, I know that we have to notify the nearest ATC of a launch, and issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) of launches, but that is not a waiver. I'm just wondering if HPR launches are not going through more paperwork than necessary.