On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 09:58:38 -0400, Andrew Case <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>As I understand it the rule would require a launch license for envelope >expansion testing of non-winged vehicles. IOW VTVL vehicles will >require a launch license for each test. No. Why does no one know this? Your flight test series can be covered in one license. One. The license can authorize multiple flights. It's in the Final Rule, always has been. >isn't linear in number of tests, due to overlap. The terms of the >AST/AVR compromise are excellent, but it would be nice to have an >additional rule that allows for launch licensing of entire test series. Read the Final Rule, ast.faa.gov. >Another interesting point is that the notice in the Federal Register >explicity disavows FAA regulation of hybrid suborbital RLVs using >propulsion that meets the requirements for amateur rocketry. Careful there. The Notice doesn't change that at all; it merely reminds the reader that AST doesn't regulate exempt rockets. FAA still does; FAR 101 covers rockets, kites, and unmanned free balloons. It's the same old airspace waiver requirement that HPR fliers satisfy every weekend. >amateur RATO seems to be OK with FAA, and presumably if anyone was to >build a rocket propelled glider they'd only have to deal with AVR, not >AST. Opens up some intriguing possibilities - 200,000 lbf-sec is a fair >amount of thrust over 15 seconds. It'd be a scary ride, though. The amateur exemption applies only to rockets. If you attach the rocket to an airplane, you need an experimental certificate. In which case the amateur rocket exemption, with its 200,000 lbf-sec and 15 second limits, goes away. You can use as big a rocket as will fit in the airplane, as long as you can show the FSDO that your beast won't fall out of the sky and hit someone. -R -- Every complex, difficult problem has a simple, easy solution - which is wrong. [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ ERPS-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list
