WASHINGTON, District of Columbia USA — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register that calls for the revamping of FAR 101, the federal regulations that apply to hobby rocketry activities in the United States.

Under "Docket No. FAA–2007–27390; Notice No. 07–06, Requirements for Amateur Rocket Activities," the FAA proposal calls for the redefinition of what an "amateur rocket" is, the reclassification of existing model rocket and large model rocket classes, and the addition of two new classes to cover existing high power rockets and experimental rockets.

The FAA has traditionally consided amateur rocketry to encompass what hobby rocketry enthusiasts could recognize to be model rocketry, low-power rocketry, mid-power rocketry, and high power rocketry as well as what is commonly referred to as experimental rocketry.  So by definition, what you would consider hobby rocketry is also a part of what the FAA considers to be amateur rocketry.

On February 28, 2000, FAA conducted a two-week public forum over the Internet, inviting comments and information from the public on the subject of regulating "small-scale" rockets launches. At that time, FAA was considering changing the term amateur to "small-scale." The two-week online forum was followed by a two week written comment period. An online public forum was conducted instead of an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) or more traditionally held public meetings.

Approximately 35 people took part in the online discussion, producing over 150 pages of comment text, while 6 more comments were received during the written comment period. The preliminary conclusion of the public online forum was that the current definition of amateur rocket activity was inadequate — it did not exclude some activities from FAA regulatory scrutiny that might be inherently safe. Although several ideas were expressed about what factors should be part of a definition, there was no consensus about what amateur rocket activity should encompass. The written comments from the public forum are available at http://dms.dot.gov/; docket number FAA–1999–6574. To find it, enter the last four digits of the docket number into the search box.

In today's NPRM, FAA was quick to point out the long-standing safety record of amateur, or hobby, rocketry, but recognized that the technological state of the hobby has grown considerably over the past 40 years, and was proposing changes to bring current regulations up to speed with the hobby.  Specifically they referenced the growth of amateur rocket propulsion systems to now include liquid motors, where only solids used to tread.  In addition, as the upper end of hobby continues to push the altitude envelope, they saw a need to address concerns with the nation's valuable electronic equipment sitting in low-earth orbit above the country's airspace, and also they saw a need to address the range of extremely powerful rockets to limit the potential for foreign national policy concerns.

As FAR 101 currently is written, there are only three classifications of amateur rockets: Model Rockets, Large Model Rockets and Other.  Those classifications are defined as such:

Model Rockets
In the applicability section, specifically § 101.1(a)(3)(ii), model rockets are exempt from all remaining part 101 regulations. This is any model rocket that:

(a) Uses not more than four ounces of propellant;
(b) Uses a slow-burning propellant;
(c) Is made of paper, wood, or breakable plastic, and contains no substantial metal parts;
(d) Weighs not more than 16 ounces, including the propellant; and
(e) Is operated in a manner that does not create a hazard to persons, property, or other aircraft.

Large Model Rockets
Large Model Rockets are defined by the FAA in § 101.22 as model rockets that meet the following conditions:

(a) Uses not more than 125 grams of propellant;
(b) Is constructed of paper, wood, or breakable plastic, and contains no substantial metal parts; and
(c) Weighs not more than 1,500 grams (including propellant).

If the operator of a Large Model Rocket complies with all provisions of § 101.25 (ATC Notice Requirements), then the operator is exempt from § 101.23(b), (g) and (h). These are the operating restrictions on entering controlled airspace, operating within 1,500 feet of any unassociated person or property, and operating between sunset and sunrise, respectively. An operator is also exempt from § 101.23(c) (operating within 5 miles of an airport runway) if the operator provides a copy of the notification required by ATC to the airport manager. Finally, if launching into restricted airspace, only § 101.23(g) (1,500 ft setback distance) applies.

Other
Any unmanned rocket that cannot be categorized as a Model Rocket or a Large Model Rocket.

The FAA is proposing the following changes:

An amateur rocket is a rocket that:

• Is propelled by a motor or motors having a combined total impulse of 889,600 N-sec (200,000 lb-sec) or less, and
• Cannot reach an altitude greater than 150 kilometers (93.2 statue miles) above the earth’s surface.

Further, FAA would add the following operating limitations to FAR 101:

• Is launched on a suborbital trajectory;
• When launched, must not cross into the territory of a foreign country unless there is an international agreement permitting such activity; and
• Is unmanned.

The proposed definition of amateur rocket keeps the same total impulse criterion as in the current definition, discards the criteria of private launch site, total burn time, and ballistic coefficient, and adds an altitude restriction. New operating limitations would require that amateur rocket launches be suborbital, not reach foreign territories, and be unmanned.

One of the more interesting paragraphs in the NPRM seemed almost at odds for an agency who provided regulatory oversight of any activity.  By nature, the definition of "regulate" seems to center around "throttle" or "control."  FAA, in their proposal, is citing an amateur's necessity to design around the regulations as a reason to change them, essentially removing the obstacle in the amateur's path:

"The second reason for removing burn time as a criterion is that current regulations unnecessarily drive rocket design. In order to ensure that amateur rockets stay under the burn time limit, and thus remain amateur, while maximizing performance, operators have introduced design elements, such as increased thrust and acceleration that introduce a safety concern. Operators of liquid rockets have faced similar pressures when designing their flight paths, and have often opted for less safe, higher-acceleration burns for the same reasons. Higher accelerations on a rocket can make failures more common, as the stresses involved are larger."

Compared to ATF's "scorched earth" regulatory enforcement approach, FAA's reasoning comes as a breath of fresh air.

The FAA proposes to move the rules governing the operation of model rockets from "Subpart A — General (§ 101.1)" to "Subpart C — Unmanned Rockets (§ 101.21)." This proposal would align all definitions and operating requirements pertaining to unmanned rockets in a single subpart. This would continue to allow model rockets to operate without FAA oversight.

The FAA proposes to clarify FAR 101 by adding two new categories of amateur rocket operations and amending the definitions of the existing categories. We propose to number these categories from "Class 1" to "Class 4." The two new categories would be "Class 3 - High-Power Rocket" and "Class 4 - Advanced High-Power Rocket." "Class 1" and "Class 2" rockets would be defined using the current definitions of "Model Rocket" and "Large Model Rocket," respectively:

Class 1 — Model Rockets
The proposed "Class 1 - Model Rockets" category takes the place of the current Model Rocket category with roughly the same definition. "Class 1" would be defined as an amateur rocket using less than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of slowburning propellant, made primarily of paper, wood, or breakable plastic, containing no substantial metal parts, and weighing no more than 454 grams (16 ounces), including the propellant.

This definition differs from the existing definition in two ways — maximum propellant weight and operating limitations. The maximum propellant weight would be increased from the existing 4 ounces to 4.4 ounces, and metric units would also be included in the regulatory text. This change would be made to close the gap in propellant weight between "Class 1" and "Class 2" rockets. The small increase in maximum propellant weight is not seen as posing an increased risk to the public.

Class 2 — Large Model Rockets
The proposed definition of "Class 2 — Large Model Rockets" would, like "Class 1," move the operating restrictions from the definition to another area of the regulations. With this change, proposed "Class 2" would only differ from "Class 1" in maximum total weight. "Class 2" would continue to allow up to 1,500 grams (53 ounces), including propellant, in contrast to 454 grams (16 ounces) allowed by "Class 1."

Class 3 — High-Power Rockets
The FAA proposes to add the term "Class 3 — High-Power Rockets," which would be defined as an amateur rocket other than a model rocket or large model rocket that is propelled by a motor or motors having a combined total impulse of 163,840 N-sec (36,818 lb-sec) or less. In terms of motor class, this is up through a Q motor.

The FAA proposes to use total impulse as the distinguishing criterion for high-power rockets because total impulse is a good measure of the size, power, and performance of the rocket.

Class 4 — Advanced High-Power Rockets
The FAA proposes to add the term "Class 4 — Advanced High-Power Rockets," which would be any amateur rocket that cannot meet one of the other three classes. In general, these will be rockets with a combined total impulse above 163,840 N-sec (36,818 lb-sec), that is, larger than a Q-motor. However, the regulation would be written such that other, unforeseen operations or advancements in amateur rocket technology will be captured as "Class 4."

The risk to the public from launches of this category is often higher due to the large amount of propellant or stored energy within the vehicle. This higher risk factor requires greater scrutiny. As proposed, the "Class 4" captures rockets more powerful than those commonly launched at high-power rocket events.

In summary:

An amateur rocket:

• Is propelled by a rocket motor or motors having a combined nominal total impulse of 889,600 N-sec (200,000 lb-sec) or less.
• Cannot reach an altitude of greater than 150 kilometers (492,120 feet).
• Must not be launched so that it could reach the territory of a foreign country unless there is an international agreement permitting such activity.
• Is launched on a suborbital trajectory.
• Is unmanned.

The following categories are recognized currently under part 101 and are kept unchanged:³

Class 1 — Model Rockets:

• Uses no more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of propellant.
• Uses a slow-burning propellant.
• Is made of paper, wood, or breakable plastic.
• Contains no substantial metal parts.
• Weighs no more than 454 grams (16 ounces), including the propellant.

Class 2 — Large Model Rockets:

• Uses no more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of propellant.
• Uses a slow-burning propellant.
• Is made of paper, wood, or breakable plastic.
• Contains no substantial metal parts.
• Weighs no more than 1,500 grams (53 ounces) including propellant.

The following are the proposed added sub-categories for Part 101:

Class 3 — High-Power Rockets:

• A rocket other than a Class 1 or Class 2, propelled by a rocket motor or motors having a combined total impulse of 163,840 N-sec (36,818 lb-sec) or less.

Class 4 — Advanced High-Power Rockets:

• Any amateur rocket other than a Class 1, 2, or 3.

³ There is a very minor change to the definition of Class 1 — Model Rockets. The maximum propellant weight is increased from 4 ounces to 4.4 ounces.

Operating Limitations for Class 1 — Model Rockets
The proposed operating limitations for "Class 1 — Model Rockets" would not differ from the current operating limitations. A model rocket must still be "operated in a manner that does not create a hazard to persons, property, or other aircraft."

Operating Limitations for Class 2 — Large Model Rockets
The proposed operating limitations for "Class 2 — Large Model Rockets" would differ only slightly from the current limitations. The phrase "airport runway or other landing area" would change to "airport boundary." This change would be made for consistency. Further, current operating limitations for large model rockets, which can be found in § 101.22 and § 101.23, would be consolidated into a single section for clarity.

Operating Limitations for Class 3 — High-Power Rockets
The proposed rule places new operating limitations on "Class 3 — High-Power Rockets." Currently, rockets that would be "Class 3" operate under the provisions for "Large Model Rockets." These limitations remain unchanged, and two more limitations codifying current practice would be added.

The first of the new proposed limitations would be that a person at least eighteen years old must be present and in charge of ensuring the safety of the operation. This has been common practice, but it is important to codify the best practices to ensure they are preserved. The second new proposed limitation would require reasonable precautions to report and control a fire. Operators should have a means of controlling small fires (such as brush fires caused by motor ignition) without putting themselves at risk. Operators should also be able to report promptly to a local fire department the location of any fire that they cannot control. This is also current practice that FAA would codify with this rulemaking.

Operating Limitations for Class 4 — Advanced High-Power Rockets
In addition to the general operating limitations proposed above, the FAA may specify operating limitations necessary to ensure that air traffic is not adversely affected and public safety is not jeopardized. The NPRM is intended to address unforeseen operations or advancements in amateur rocket technology.

The notice requirements that are currently in § 101.25 would be moved to § 101.27 and updated by this rulemaking as follows: For "Class 1," no notice. For "Class 2" and above, operator information (name, address, etc.), affected altitudes (MSL), location of launch (latitude & longitude), launch date, time and duration of launch, and other information as requested by the FAA.  For "Class 3" and "Class 4," location of the center of the affected area in latitude and longitude must also be supplied.

Currently, § 101.25 requires ATC notification to be given to the nearest FAA ATC "no less than 24 hours and no more than 48 hours prior to beginning the operation." The FAA proposes to change this timeline to "no less than 24 hours before and no more than 3 days before beginning the operation."

Section 101.29 information requirements:
Individuals wishing to launch a rocket into FAA-controlled airspace currently files FAA Form 7711–2 before their launch to request authorization, however under the proposed ruling, due to the low risk posed by "Class 1" model rockets, fliers of this class rocket would continue to be exempt from information requirements. The current information requirements for "Class 2" large model rockets would also remain the same.

Under the proposed ruling, for a "Class 3" or "Class 4" rocket operation, a person would complete FAA Form 7711–2 and send it (in triplicate) to the FAA so that it is received at least 45 days before the proposed operation, the minimum amount of time the FAA needs to process and evaluate the public safety implications. An rocket with advanced technology or other complicated systems could take more time to evaluate.  Some concerns have been raised about how this would affect "standing" waivers, but the NPRM gave no indication of how those would be handled or if they would even still exist.

Additional information proposed to be submitted to the FAA for "Class 3" and "Class 4" rockets would include: Estimated number of rockets in each total impulse class; type of propulsion, fuel(s), oxidizer(s), manufacturer, and certification, if any; description of launcher(s) planned to be used; including any airborne platform(s); description of recovery system; description of how applicant will meet operating limitations of § 101.25; highest altitude expected to be reached above ground level; launch site latitude, longitude, and elevation; and any additional safety procedures that will be followed.

Additional information over and above the previous paragraph applicable only for "Class 4" rockets in the proposed ruling would include: Maximum possible range; dynamic stability characteristics for the entire flight profile; description of all major rocket systems; description of other support equipment necessary for safe operation; planned flight profile and sequence of events; all nominal impact areas within three standard deviations; launch commit criteria; countdown procedures; description of how applicant will meet operating limitations of § 101.26; and mishap procedures.

According to the FAA NPRM, the proposed rule provides valuable benefits. As listed below, this proposed rule would:

• Proactively preserve the existing high safety level of amateur rocket activities;
• Update the Federal Aviation Regulations to reflect current industry standards and procedures;
• Eliminate inconsistencies in the existing rules;
• Provide new definitions of amateur rocket categories that would allow amateur rocketeers to more easily determine what, if any, regulations they would have to comply with;
• Allow unlicensed launches of liquid rockets at optimum performance levels;
• Streamline and clarify the data collection process in cases where a proposed launch would require that the launches proposer provide data to the FAA;
• Insure that amateur rocket activities would be conducted in accordance with all international treaties;
• Insure that amateur rocket activities would not interfere with objects in orbit.

Comments must be submitted on or before September 12, 2007. You may send comments, identified by "Docket No. FAA–2007–27390," using any of the following methods:

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov/ and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Mail: Send comments to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590.
• Fax: Fax comments to the Docket Management Facility at 202–493–2251.
• Hand Delivery: Bring comments to the docket Management Facility in Room W12–140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9AM and 5PM, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Guidance on submitting comments to the NPRM will probably be forthcoming from the various national hobby organizations.  As those are received, look for them to be posted here.

Documents: NPRM: FAA 2007-27390 — Requirements for Amateur Rocket Activities (112K PDF file)

06-14-2007 05:35 PM  #1
Kapton Certified Level Two   Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 34	Quote: Class 3 — High-Power Rockets ....combined total impulse of 163,840 N-sec (36,818 lb-sec) or less. In terms of motor class, this is up to a Q motor. I believe this is up THROUGH a Q motor.

06-14-2007 11:59 PM  #2
artk321go New Member   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1	This all sounds OK, but what about rockets with more than 1/3T total impulse? Where do they fall then? I can think of at least 1 rocket being planned that is a model and sub-orbital but will have more than 1/3T total impulse. Just a thought.

06-15-2007 12:23 AM  #3
heada Certifiable   Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1115	A class 4 rocket is any rocket that does not fall into class 1, 2 or 3. Overall, an amateur rocket is: An amateur rocket is a rocket that: • Is propelled by a motor or motors having a combined total impulse of 889,600 N-sec (200,000 lb-sec) or less, and • Cannot reach an altitude greater than 150 kilometers (93.2 statue miles) above the earth’s surface. Further, we would add the following operating limitations to part 101: • Is launched on a suborbital trajectory; • When launched, must not cross into the territory of a foreign country unless there is an international agreement permitting such activity; and • Is unmanned. The impulse limitation of 889,600 N-sec puts it at just over 1/3T (1/3T is 873813 N-s) Anything larger than a class 4 amateur rocket would (I think....could be wrong) need to go through the AST process and obtain a license or permit for an USLV (Unguided Sub-orbital Launch Vehicle) which would be required for any flight over 25000 feet anyway by: Any applicant proposing to launch above 7,620 meters (25,000 feet) above ground level, is encouraged to follow the FAA guidance document, ‘‘Supplemental Application Guidance for Unguided Suborbital Launch Vehicles, August 1998,’’ available at http://www.faa.gov/about/o...ety/guidelines/sag_uslv/ The process for obtaining an AST launch permit for an USLV is fairly new and has only been completed less than a dozen times as far as I know. People like Armadillo Aerospace, Space-X and Masten-Spacesystems have obtained AST licenses or permits. Additionally, there are requirements for class 4 rocket that are above and beyond class 3. These include: Maximum possible range Dynamic stability characteristics for the entire flight profile Description of all major rocket systems Description of other support equipment necessary for safe operation Planned flight profile and sequence of events All nominal impact areas within three standard deviations Launch commit criteria Countdown procedures Description of how applicant will meet operating limitations of § 101.26 Mishap procedures The requirement for nominal impact areas would require something like Splash (now RockSim Pro) -Aaron

06-20-2007 12:30 PM  #4
ddmobley Administrator   Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 4157	This message was pulled off the ARocket mailing list: "Got a request to pass this along to ARocket, GPO made a mistake publishing the NPRM for the Amateur Rocket Rule. The docket number is published in the NPRM as FAA-2007- 27310, and the actual docket number is FAA-2007-27390. (27310 is about type certificates for propellers - not very rocket-ty)" This is important so that we can a) find the NPRM and b) submit comments to the correct NPRM.

06-20-2007 02:41 PM  #5
Aphyle Hot HCl and rubber @ AM   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 118	Quote: This message was pulled off the ARocket mailing list: "Got a request to pass this along to ARocket, GPO made a mistake publishing the NPRM for the Amateur Rocket Rule. The docket number is published in the NPRM as FAA-2007- 27310, and the actual docket number is FAA-2007-27390. (27310 is about type certificates for propellers - not very rocket-ty)" This is important so that we can a) find the NPRM and b) submit comments to the correct NPRM. One envisions a 3-pound propeller with 125 grams of propellant....