NOVAAR Range Safety Rules

Please Review this review the follwing safety bulletin: Range Safety 2024 sm2.pdf

NOVAAR Range Safety

NOVAAR is a club dedicated to flying model rockets, safely.

It is not unrealistic for over 250 people to fly with us during a weekend rocket launch.  Many of them are NOVAAR members but, a large portion are people coming out to fly their first or second rocket for the first or second time.

The range crew's job is to verify that every rocket is safe enough to launch and the fliers conduct themselves safely and properly while on the range, in the parking area and while on the property we are privledged to be allowed to use.

These sets of rules apply to everyone on the field, member and visitor alike.

Additional information about Rocketry Safety can be found on the NAR's website at www.nar.org/safety-information.  And, information about the NAR's Safety Codes can be found at www.nar.org/safety-codes-2.

NOVAAR Range Safety Rules

All rockets flown at a NOVAAR rocket launch are flown from our launch system.  Total control of the range is the only way to ensure the safety of both flies and spectators.  The follow rules help maintain order on the range.

1.  Follow the directions of the Range Safety officer

2.  All rockets must go through our safety check-in, each time it flies.  Check-in Guidelines are below.

3.  Bring your rocket to check-in ready to fly

4.  A "Flight Card" must be filled out for each flight.

5.  Rocket flights must occur on our range only.

6.  Spectators stay behind the flag line.

7.  Air horn is a flight danger warning -- look up.

NAR Model Rocket Safety Code
Revision of August, 2012

The NAR’s development and adherence to the Model Rocket Safety Code has allowed the organization to establish and maintain an excellent safety record.  NOVAAR’s safety record is solidly rooted in successfully following and enforcing the safety code.

1. Materials.  I will use only lightweight, non-metal parts for the nose, body, and fins of my rocket.

2. Motors.  I will use only certified, commercially-made model rocket motors, and will not tamper with these motors or use them for any purposes except those recommended by the manufacturer.

3. Ignition System.  I will launch my rockets with an electrical launch system and electrical motor igniters.  My launch system will have a safety interlock in series with the launch switch, and will use a launch switch that returns to the “off” position when released.

4. Misfires.  If my rocket does not launch when I press the button of my electrical launch system, I will remove the launcher’s safety interlock or disconnect its battery, and will wait 60 seconds after the last launch attempt before allowing anyone to approach the rocket.

5. Launch Safety.  I will use a countdown before launch, and will ensure that everyone is paying attention and is a safe distance of at least 15 feet away when I launch rockets with D motors or smaller, and 30 feet when I launch larger rockets.  If I am uncertain about the safety or stability of an untested rocket, I will check the stability before flight and will fly it only after warning spectators and clearing them away to a safe distance.  When conducting a simultaneous launch of more than ten rockets I will observe a safe distance of 1.5 times the maximum expected altitude of any launched rocket.

6. Launcher.  I will launch my rocket from a launch rod, tower, or rail that is pointed to within 30 degrees of the vertical to ensure that the rocket flies nearly straight up, and I will use a blast deflector to prevent the motor’s exhaust from hitting the ground.  To prevent accidental eye injury, I will place launchers so that the end of the launch rod is above eye level or will cap the end of the rod when it is not in use.

7. Size.  My model rocket will not weigh more than 1,500 grams (53 ounces) at liftoff and will not contain more than 125 grams (4.4 ounces) of propellant or 320 N-sec (71.9 pound-seconds) of total impulse.

8. Flight Safety.  I will not launch my rocket at targets, into clouds, or near airplanes, and will not put any flammable or explosive payload in my rocket.

9. Launch Site.  I will launch my rocket outdoors, in an open area at least as large as shown in the accompanying table, and in safe weather conditions with wind speeds no greater than 20 miles per hour.  I will ensure that there is no dry grass close to the launch pad, and that the launch site does not present risk of grass fires.

10. Recovery System.  I will use a recovery system such as a streamer or parachute in my rocket so that it returns safely and undamaged and can be flown again, and I will use only flame-resistant or fireproof recovery system wadding in my rocket.

11. Recovery Safety.  I will not attempt to recover my rocket from power lines, tall trees, or other dangerous places.

Launch Site Dimensions

NOVAAR Safety Check-in Officer Guidelines

Before a rocket can be flown on a NAR range, it must undergo a safety check before it and the flier are allowed to proceed to a launch position.  These are the items that will be checked by NOVAAR at check-in.

1.  Is the rocket structurally sound -- fins and launch lug solidly glued (not taped) onto the body and an appropriate strength/size for the model, body tube not crimped?

2.  Does the rocket appear to be stable -- center of gravity one or more body diameters ahead of the center of pressure (which is normally just forward of the fin leading edge)?

3.  Is the rocket motor on the list of NAR Certified Rocket Motors?

4.  Does the rocket motor have sufficient thrust to give the rocket a safe liftoff velocity and a delay time that will not result in the rocket having excessive upward or downward velocity at ejection?

5.  Is the motor properly restrained in the model -- with an engine hook, or with enough tape that the ejection charge will not pop it out and it cannot be easily removed by hand?

6.  Does the nose cone fit properly -- not loose enough to fall off of its own weight, not so tight that significant force is required to remove it?

7.  Does the rocket have a recovery system that will return it at a safe landing speed, and is the recovery system packed properly and recently, structurally sound, and protected with sufficient flame-proof wadding that it will properly deploy?

8.  If the rocket is high-power (H or larger motor), is the modeler certified for the power level of its motor? (Note: HPR check-in must be done by an HPR-certified person.)

9.  If the rocket is high-power, did another HPR certified modeler do a "peer review" of the recovery system's packing? If not, disassemble and inspect it.

Great Meadow Rules

Having a place to fly is very important to a rocket club.  And, NOVAAR is very fortunate to have access to the fantastic piece of property that is Great Meadow.  In order to maintain our relationship with the Great Meadow Foundation there are a few rules they want us to follow.

1.  Drive on roads and park in designated areas.

2.  Pick up any Trash that you see.

3.  No Glass Containers

4.  No pets except on leash.

5.  Do not climb on fences, trees, or structures.

6.  Cross fences at gates (hinge side) if possible.

7.  Ask for assistance to recover rockets from trees.

8.  Do not attempt to recover rockets from overhead wires.

9.  Do not go onto private property without permission.

10.  The use of heated cooking devices (grills, stoves, burners, etc) is prohibited.

For more information see Safety in Sport Rocketry

High Power Rocket Safety Code
Effective of August, 2012

The NAR's High Power Safety Code was creared using the same methods and practices that created and maintains the NAR's Model Rocket Safety Code.  And, the goal of both Safety Codes is the same, safety.

1. Certification.  I will only fly high power rockets or possess high power rocket motors that are within the scope of my user certification and required licensing.

2. Materials.  I will use only lightweight materials such as paper, wood, rubber, plastic, fiberglass, or when necessary ductile metal, for the construction of my rocket.

3. Motors.  I will use only certified, commercially made rocket motors, and will not tamper with these motors or use them for any purposes except those recommended by the manufacturer.  I will not allow smoking, open flames, nor heat sources within 25 feet of these motors.

4. Ignition System.  I will launch my rockets with an electrical launch system, and with electrical motor igniters that are installed in the motor only after my rocket is at the launch pad or in a designated prepping area.  My launch system will have a safety interlock that is in series with the launch switch that is not installed until my rocket is ready for launch, and will use a launch switch that returns to the “off” position when released.  The function of onboard energetics and firing circuits will be inhibited except when my rocket is in the launching position.

5. Misfires.  If my rocket does not launch when I press the button of my electrical launch system, I will remove the launcher’s safety interlock or disconnect its battery, and will wait 60 seconds after the last launch attempt before allowing anyone to approach the rocket.

6. Launch Safety.  I will use a 5-second countdown before launch.  I will ensure that a means is available to warn participants and spectators in the event of a problem.  I will ensure that no person is closer to the launch pad than allowed by the accompanying Minimum Distance Table.  When arming onboard energetics and firing circuits I will ensure that no person is at the pad except safety personnel and those required for arming and disarming operations.  I will check the stability of my rocket before flight and will not fly it if it cannot be determined to be stable.  When conducting a simultaneous launch of more than one high power rocket I will observe the additional requirements of NFPA 1127.

7. Launcher.  I will launch my rocket from a stable device that provides rigid guidance until the rocket has attained a speed that ensures a stable flight, and that is pointed to within 20 degrees of vertical.  If the wind speed exceeds 5 miles per hour I will use a launcher length that permits the rocket to attain a safe velocity before separation from the launcher.  I will use a blast deflector to prevent the motor’s exhaust from hitting the ground.  I will ensure that dry grass is cleared around each launch pad in accordance with the accompanying Minimum Distance table, and will increase this distance by a factor of 1.5 and clear that area of all combustible material if the rocket motor being launched uses titanium sponge in the propellant.

8. Size.  My rocket will not contain any combination of motors that total more than 40,960 N-sec (9208 pound-seconds) of total impulse.  My rocket will not weigh more at liftoff than one-third of the certified average thrust of the high power rocket motor(s) intended to be ignited at launch.

9. Flight Safety.  I will not launch my rocket at targets, into clouds, near airplanes, nor on trajectories that take it directly over the heads of spectators or beyond the boundaries of the launch site, and will not put any flammable or explosive payload in my rocket.  I will not launch my rockets if wind speeds exceed 20 miles per hour.  I will comply with Federal Aviation Administration airspace regulations when flying, and will ensure that my rocket will not exceed any applicable altitude limit in effect at that launch site.

10. Launch Site.  I will launch my rocket outdoors, in an open area where trees, power lines, occupied buildings, and persons not involved in the launch do not present a hazard, and that is at least as large on its smallest dimension as one-half of the maximum altitude to which rockets are allowed to be flown at that site or 1500 feet, whichever is greater, or 1000 feet for rockets with a combined total impulse of less than 160 N-sec, a total liftoff weight of less than 1500 grams, and a maximum expected altitude of less than 610 meters (2000 feet).

11. Launcher Location.  My launcher will be 1500 feet from any occupied building or from any public highway on which traffic flow exceeds 10 vehicles per hour, not including traffic flow related to the launch.  It will also be no closer than the appropriate Minimum Personnel Distance from the accompanying table from any boundary of the launch site.

12. Recovery System.  I will use a recovery system such as a parachute in my rocket so that all parts of my rocket return safely and undamaged and can be flown again, and I will use only flame-resistant or fireproof recovery system wadding in my rocket.

13. Recovery Safety.  I will not attempt to recover my rocket from power lines, tall trees, or other dangerous places, fly it under conditions where it is likely to recover in spectator areas or outside the launch site, nor attempt to catch it as it approaches the ground.

Minimum Distance Table