TFR over Chicago Question

[Jay Honeck]

The TFR says "model rocketry" and "R/C planes" are prohibited. (See below.) Do these folks really check TFRs?

When I used to take my son's Cub Scout troop up to the playground to launch model rockets, I never thought to call Flight Service.

How do they enforce these rules?

C. THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED
WITHIN THIS TFR: FLIGHT TRAINING, PRACTICE
INSTRUMENT APPROACHES, AEROBATIC FLIGHT, GLIDER
OPERATIONS, PARACHUTE OPERATIONS, ULTRALIGHT, HANG
GLIDING, BALLOON OPERATIONS, AGRICULTURE/CROP
DUSTING, ANIMAL POPULATION CONTROL FLIGHT
OPERATIONS, BANNER TOWING OPERATIONS, SIGHTSEEING
OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHTS, MODEL
AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS, MODEL ROCKETRY, AND UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS).
D. FAA RECOMMENDS THAT ALL AIRCRAFT OPERATORS
CHECK NOTAMS FREQUENTLY FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES TO
END PART 4 OF 5

 

[PilotAlan]

The TFR says "model rocketry" and "R/C planes" are prohibited. (See below.) Do these folks really check TFRs? ... How do they enforce these rules?

They don't, they can't. But never let reality get in the way of a regulation. <sigh>

 

[ScottM]

There are model rocket clubs that have launches and write NOTAMs to be issued by the FAA that they will be having a launch. It is required to have a NOTAM when launching anything over 16oz and 1000AGL. Those clubs are pretty good at doing what they are supposed to do. But the parent/child launching an Estes rocket most likely has no clue about the TFR and prohibition. I doubt that they would get into any trouble at all from the DHS about launching. more likely they will get noticed by the local gendarme when they try to launch from the public park where rockets are prohibited all the time.

 

[poadeleted20]

They don't, they can't.

I can't say whether they do or not, but if they put their minds to it, they certainly could. As for whether or not one was aware of these rules, if it goes to court, "ignorance of the law is no excuse."

 

[Jay Honeck]

I can't say whether they do or not, but if they put their minds to it, they certainly could. As for whether or not one was aware of these rules, if it goes to court, "ignorance of the law is no excuse."

You're probably right, but is there a judge in America who would convict a Cub Scout leader of such a thing?

Ugh. The more I think about it, the more I'm afraid that the answer to that question is "Yes."

 

[PilotAlan]

... if they put their minds to it, they certainly could.

True. There's plenty of precedent for the Feds spending insane amounts of resources to accomplish useless or inane objectives.

 

[vontresc]

Hmmm Is anyone else thinking about loading a disposable estes rocket with tinsel???

Anyone know what length to cut the chaff for best radar return?

 

[colohan]

The TFR says "model rocketry" and "R/C planes" are prohibited. (See below.) Do these folks really check TFRs?

When I used to take my son's Cub Scout troop up to the playground to launch model rockets, I never thought to call Flight Service.

How do they enforce these rules?

In the SF Bay Area there are several mailing lists for folks who frequent the local R/C plane fields. When a TFR is published usually someone emails it to the lists.

The AMA will also send a note out to its members who live in the area of a TFR.

Chris

 

[tonycondon]

Hmmm Is anyone else thinking about loading a disposable estes rocket with tinsel???

Anyone know what length to cut the chaff for best radar return?

dude have you ever seen where they set up those big grids and launch about 1000 mini mosquito rockets all at once. you know the onces that are just engines with a nose cone and popsicle stick fins. just use aluminum paint on those suckers and you could make a blip for a few seconds at least.

 

[ScottM]

dude have you ever seen where they set up those big grids and launch about 1000 mini mosquito rockets all at once. you know the onces that are just engines with a nose cone and popsicle stick fins. just use aluminum paint on those suckers and you could make a blip for a few seconds at least.

Do the grid but use these instead of mosquitos!

One of my rockets has over 1lb of clay in the nose cone to make it aerodynamically stable. The entire thing with chutes weighs over 2 lbs and with a J-motor I have had it over 3000'AGL. The diameter of the rocket is 7" and we could fit a lot of chaff in there!!!


Oh and here is video of a recent launch near where I fly.

http://www.tripoliwisconsin.com/Y2010VID/farrand_2010_06_19/vids/Vern H Patriot.wmv

This is why I pay attention to rocket NOTAMs when I get up in the air.

 

[tonycondon]

that would be pretty badass scott

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

One of mine, not quite so large.

But it was launched under a class B shelf...

http://www.runwayfinder.com/?loc=42.35429/-83.25079&view=vfr

 

[mantakos]

That's not a rocket, this is a rocket:

BTW, I don't know if they can see rockets on radar, but I do know that fighters were scrambled to intercept an ADIZ incursion by ... a flock of birds. They had apparently not filed a flight plan, were not squawking an assigned code, nor maintaining 2-way communication.
-harry

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Hmmm Is anyone else thinking about loading a disposable estes rocket with tinsel???

Anyone know what length to cut the chaff for best radar return?

Cut it to 1/2 the wavelength of whatever radar you want to disrupt.

 

[BillTIZ]

AMA distributes FAA TFR NOTAM information on their club mailing lists.

 

[NC Pilot]

One of my rockets has over 1lb of clay in the nose cone to make it aerodynamically stable. The entire thing with chutes weighs over 2 lbs and with a J-motor I have had it over 3000'AGL. The diameter of the rocket is 7" and we could fit a lot of chaff in there!!!

Wow, 1 lb. of clay in the nose and the whole rocket only weighs 2 lbs! I'm surprised it was built so light. No wonder it goes so high.