High-power rocketry

In most other countries, where HPR is supported, the regulations are similar to or derived from the Tripoli Rocket Association Unified Safety Code[1] and the NAR High-power Certification system.

In Canada, the Canadian Association of Rocketry - L'Association Canadienne De Fuséologie is appointed as regulator for the hobby.

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the Interessengemeinschaft Modellraketen has an approved HPR certification program which is cross-recognized by NAR, CAR and UKRA.

[3] Unlike model rocketry, certification is required by the governing organizations in order for individuals to fly high-powered rockets.

Due to a change by the Board of Directors upon recommendation from the RSO Committee, all hybrids are considered High Power.

[8] In order to gain certification an individual needs to demonstrate their ability to fly a rocket within the given power range of the level they are seeking successfully.

Tripoli Rocketry Association maintains a Class 3 review committee [10] who voluntarily (not required by the FAA) review rockets with altitudes expecting to reach or exceed 50,000 feet and as a pre-check for rocket projects that will be submitted to the FAA as a class 3 project.

The class 3 approval is fairly involved necessitating 6-degree of freedom dispersion analysis for the returning rocket, a documentation of launch/ no-launch criteria among other things.

After the written report has been approved and the rocket inspected, the candidate must then complete a successful test flight to obtain his level 3 certification.

Third party indemnity insurance is only provided by the British Model Flying Association (BMFA) and is included as part of the membership package.

High Power Rocket fliers must hold the appropriate certificate for the size of motor that they are flying, and abide by the UKRA safety rules, for insurance to be valid.

Rocketry SA[12] offer a certification program in South Africa with similar processes and procedures to those of the US and UK.

Motor casings are normally machined aluminium with ablative phenolic or paper liners and are reloadable, i.e. can be used multiple times.

The UKRA has negotiated an exemption so that model rocket fliers can obtain some AP motors in limited quantities without the need for an explosives licence.

Since 4 December 2007, model rocketeers have been able to purchase AP motors with a net weight less than 1 kg of propellant without an Explosives Licence.

This can be obtained from the UK HSE by writing an appropriate letter to them requesting an exemption for model rocket motors.

These recovery events can be brought about by small explosive charges (black powder or Pyrodex) or pressurized gasses (e.g., CO2).

At an altitude predetermined by the hobbyist, an altimeter deploys a main parachute that slows the rocket to a safe recovery speed.