LDRS 26 Rules and Regulations

You as a flyer probably knows that rocketry is an inherently dangerous activity - objects often fall from the sky, sometimes at a very high speed. We have rules and procedures to make this activity safe for everyone as possible, but bad things can happen if the rules are not followed. Everyone flying must understand and follow these rules to ensure safety:

• Pay attention! Every flight is potentially dangerous to you and your family. If the Launch Control Officer (LCO) yells "Heads up!" he means it!
• Unless you are flying stay behind the flagged flight line barrier, and please do not set up your chairs etc. at the barrier.
• Do not drive wheeled vehicles along the flight line. This includes ATVs, bicycles, tricycles, etc.
• Park your car behind the line marked on the lakebed, and please do not park in any areas designated for vendors or for launch administration.
  
• RVs and motor homes must park in designated rows.
  
• Please drive 3mph as you approach the launch area, and within the launch area. A vehicle moving any faster can raise a surprising amount of very annoying dust!
  
• Please keep your children, friends, and family under control and be sure they understand these rules.
• If you are away from the pad area and cannot hear the public address speakers, please tune your FM radio to 88.5 MHz to monitor LCO announcements.
  
• Please fill out the correct flight card for your flight before arriving at the RSO table. We have three card styles: a red card for heads up and certification flights, a white card for night flights, and a yellow card for all other flights.
  
• All motors of impulse class "F" and above must have their ignitors installed at the pad. If you arrive at the RSO with an ignitor installed you will be asked to immediately leave the line to correct the problem, and you will have to wait in line again. Note there are only two exceptions to this rule:
  • The ignitor must be built-in to the motor during construction; in this case, all ignitor leads must remain shorted together until the rocket is on the pad.
  • The rocket is a cluster rocket; in this case, ignitors may be loaded in a designated area within the range.
    
• All rockets must be inspected and approved by the Range Safety Officer (RSO) prior to each flight. Please be prepared to show that your rocket is powered by Tripoli or NAR certified motor, that it will have a stable flight, and that it will recover safely. If you have an extra large or complex project, a Mobile RSO may be available - just ask.
  
• Rockets with total impulse of class "M" or greater must have documentation for the RSO showing that the rocket will be stable.
  
• All electronic recovery devices must be safed, shunted, or powered off when the rocket is brought to the RSO.
• Radio Control (RC) systems used on the range connected to any pyrotechnic devices (ignitors or backup charges) must be commercially available systems that are specifically designed for remote ignition of pyrotechnic devices (such as, but not limited to, the Missile Works WRC or Digifire systems). No car/aircraft/boat systems can be used for ignition or backup charges. ROC is not an RC club so we're not going to try and coordinate RC aircraft or RC car frequencies for non-rocketry uses. The regular "no aircraft or cars on the range while it's open" restrictions still apply. Note that this restriction does not apply to RC boost gliders, only their ignition and ejection charges.
  
• If you feel the RSO has rejected your rocket unfairly, you may appeal to the LDRS 26 Executive Committee.
  
• The Pad Manager will assign your pad after the rocket is approved by the RSO. If you have any difficulty with your pad, please ask the PM for assistance.
  
• Do not enter the range to load or recover a rocket until the Launch Control Officer (LCO) announces "the range is open".
• No one under 18 is allowed beyond the middle row of pads except when the entire range is open (i.e. during recovery operations). This applies to all situations (especially observing launches), so even accompanied minors are not allowed beyond the middle row. If a minor's rocket goes into the "no access zone", then they have to await a range opening to recover. This does not apply to the areas outside of the flagged safety zones to the east and west. .
  
• You may pick up or move another fliers rocket that has landed only under the following conditions:
  • You have the owner's permission to do so.
  • If you are a long distance away, and the rocket is undamaged, and no one appears to be looking for it, you may carefully bring it back to the LCO table; if the rocket is damaged, please note the location and report it to the LCO.
  • If the rocket is being dragged by the wind, please carefully stop the rocket and place the parachute under its body tube or nose cone, and note the location and report it to the LCO.
  • If you find a reloadable motor casing that has been ejected from a rocket, wait until it has cooled off and bring it back to the LCO table.
    
• Overnight camping is permitted. Campfires are permitted in above ground containers - no firepits!
  
• Please use only the provided toilet facilities (porta potties). Please do not throw trash into the porta potties! Doo doo and pee pee and tee pee only!!!!
  
• Please keep control of your trash and carry it off the lakebed when you leave.
  
• We will be conducting night launches. All night launch rockets must have a strobe that is visible throughout the flight - meaning from before liftoff all the way to touchdown. A strobe deployed at apogee is not acceptable. Other lights, LEDs, electroluminescent strips, etc. are permitted with the strobe.
  
• Regarding the back row pads, we have some special restrictions for everyone's safety:
  • No one under 18 is allowed to participate in any loading or prepping of rockets at the back pads or the away cells. Those flyers and assistants (see below) over 18 will need to register and sign a specific waiver at the time of registration (once per event). These flyers and assistants will be issued a specially colored wristband indicating their ability to go beyond the middle row.
  • Flyers are limited to themselves plus two assistants on the back pads. If you need more than 2 people to help with your project, then you need to request permission from the Away Pad Manager as soon as you get out to the pads. All assistants must have the "all access" wristband.