Rocketry Planet

WORLD WIDE WEB — North of the border, Canadian hobby rocketry enthusiasts struggle with their own set of explosives regulations as they apply to their sport, operating under the watchful eye of the Explosives Regulatory Division of Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. BATFE.

Like their U.S. counterparts, Canadian fliers find themselves limited under Canadian law with regard to their use of black powder for hobby rocketry ejection charges.  Unlike the BATFE, Canadian ERD may grant an exemption allowing unlicensed individuals to use small quantities of black powder for the express purpose of making ejection charges, provided certain conditions are met.

In 2006, Mike Dennett, acting as regulatory liaison to the Canadian Association of Rocketry (CAR), applied to ERD seeking a blanket exemption for CAR members to use black powder in hobby rocketry ejection charges at sanctioned CAR launches.  ERD granted the exemption to CAR in a letter dated July 21, 2006, a copy of which is located on the CAR website.

Earlier this year, Anthony Cesaroni of Cesaroni Technology Incorporated (CTI) placed a request to ERD, seeking to extend the CAR black powder usage authorization to include the Tripoli Rocketry Association and National Association of Rocketry members.  As a motor manufacturer, and a member of CAR, TRA and NAR, including serving as a TRA prefect and TAP member, Cesaroni felt it would be beneficial for the two American groups to gain access to prepare and use ejection charges at Canadian launches should their members cross the border for launch events.

In Cesaroni's original submission to ERD, he asked if he could act on the behalf of NAR and TRA. ERD asked for confirmation from each organization, authorizing him to make the request in that capacity.  As an alternative, each organization could make the request on their own.

Taking the lead, Trip Barber, president of the NAR, submitted his request on behalf of all NAR members in October of this year.  According to a post today on the Canadian Rocketry Yahoo! Group, NAR's letter of authorization was mailed on December 30, 2008, granting NAR members to prepare and use black powder ejection charges at CAR launches in Canada: 

December 30, 2008

File XP0600-2

Mr. Arthur Barber, President
National Association of Rocketry (NAR)
P.O. Box 407
Marion, IA
52302 USA

email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Re: Authorization for the assembly of ejection charge devices

Mr. Barber,

The Explosives Regulatory Division acknowledges receipt of your letter dated October, 2008 on behalf of the NAR requesting an approval for the on-site assembly of ejection charge devices for use in rockets that utilize electronic recovery system deployment. This request is being made for NAR members doing this operation at CAR (Canadian Association of Rocketry) events.

We concur with your request under the following conditions:

- the ejection charge devices may only be assembled at the point of use; if unused, they must be disposed of in a safe manner;
- the devices must be assembled with authorized explosives only that are to be transported to the point of use in their approved packaging;
- this approval is limited to NAR members for CAR events;
- the allowed explosives are black powder (type FFFG or FFFFG) or smokeless powder and with typical charges of 2 to 5 grams per device.

This approval is valid for an unlimited period of time, but may be rescinded if, for example, above conditions are not met by NAR members.

Best regards

Dr. C.G. Watson
Chief Inspector of Explosives
Explosives Regulatory Division
Tel: 1 613 948 5170
Fax: 1 613 948 5195
/jla

The ERD black powder authorization, as noted, is valid until retracted by ERD.

While NAR doesn't host any launches in Canada, U.S. members close to the Canadian border do on occasion cross the border and participate at CAR launches.  Tripoli, on the other hand, has active prefectures in Canada, who hold their own launches as well as participate at CAR launches.  At the present, no authorization requests have been submitted on behalf of TRA members according to ERD.

Reader comments

#1 Re: Article: In Canada, NAR’s now in, TRA’s still out

The "headline" is a bit misleading, as this only applies to the use of ejection charges not incorporated into a motor.

And comparing ERD to the BATFE? That's just wrong. No one deserves to be compared to the BATFE

CF-105 on 12-31-2008 05:02 PM

#2 Re: Article: In Canada, NAR’s now in, TRA’s still out

I don't see how you can draw any conclusion from the headline.

ddmobley on 12-31-2008 05:07 PM

#3 Re: Article: In Canada, NAR’s now in, TRA’s still out

I conclude the Canadian 'in' crowd is joining NAR and only Canadian squares are with TRA. (But now I've read the article.)

rstaff3 on 12-31-2008 06:36 PM

#4 Re: Article: In Canada, NAR’s now in, TRA’s still out

1. Trip Barber rocks. Period.

2. Ejection charges need to be as allowed as low as 1/4g (or even 0.01g). That is a defect in the letter.

3. Why add any limitations not specified by an authority? NAR does do that, and that does NOT rock.

NAR over regulates.

Just Jerry

Just Jerry on 12-31-2008 08:29 PM

#5 Re: Article: In Canada, NAR’s now in, TRA’s still out

Quote:

2. Ejection charges need to be as allowed as low as 1/4g (0.01g). That is a defect in the letter.

Wouldn't that be 0.25g?

ddmobley on 12-31-2008 10:18 PM

#6 Re: Article: In Canada, NAR’s now in, TRA’s still out

Quote:

Wouldn't that be 0.25g?

Or 1/100g (why is the minimum post limit TEN characters?)

Chrisn on 12-31-2008 11:02 PM

#7 Re: Article: In Canada, NAR’s now in, TRA’s still out

Quote:

(why is the minimum post limit TEN characters?)

It has to be something.

ddmobley on 12-31-2008 11:34 PM

#8 Re: Article: In Canada, NAR’s now in, TRA’s still out

It would be nice to get anything moving toward change in our direction in the USA. Maybe before I redeploy back from Egypt.

cwbullet on 12-31-2008 11:44 PM

#9 Re: Article: In Canada, NAR’s now in, TRA’s still out

What is amazing to me is that in Canada, you do not have to have an explosives license in order to fly commercial motors. If you are a member of CAR, for example, and you are certified level 4, you can purchase and fly an O motor without an explosives permit. But in the good old U.S. of A., the good old land of freedom, you can't fly anything over a G. Amazing. And how many terrorist attacks, criminal acts or anything else wrong happening because of it? Wake up, America!

ddmobley on 12-31-2008 11:55 PM

#10 Re: Article: In Canada, NAR’s now in, TRA’s still out

Similar in the UK. You can fly up to a small K without any license (or indeed membership of any club)

Also, unless typical means something else on that side of the pond, there is nothing to stop you from having a 1/4g or even 0.01g charge on occasion. I suspect the authorities would only be concerned if all charges were greatly outwith those limits.

Init 6 on 01-01-2009 08:26 AM

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