Dear friends and fellow rocketeers.

In the context of the arrangements for and organisation of IRW 2010 I have very recently received the attached information from Andy Sinclair at the CAA. Andy Sinclair is the CAA officer to whom applications for Large Rocket Permission(s) should be made, and who issues such Permission(s).

The attached document gives the information that is required to be included in Large Rocket launch Permission applications.

There have been a number of such applications made by UK rocketeers/UKRA Members in recent years, so some of you will be familiar with the procedure. (To date I believe that the only such issued Permission that has actually been used, at a non-commercial rocket event that is, has been the spectacular, interesting, and very successful flight of Richard Brown's Corpulent Stump rocket on an N motor at the FMRS on the Sunday of IRW 2007.) However, the detailed document sent to me by Andy Sinclair may represent new information and advice, hence my posting it here.

I am posting this here, not only for IRW 2010, but for general aid and use for any Large Rocket launch Permissions that might be wished to be applied for at any other UK rocketry event in the future.

As regards Large Rockets at IRW 2010, up to this date (Sunday 15th August) I have had no indication that any such rockets are being brought for flight at IRW 2010. I have asked more than once for any such notifications, and as I have received none, I am sssuming that there will be no Large Rockets at IRW 2010. However, if there are any such projects out there intended for IRW 2010, would their builder(s) please let me know now. My full contact details are on the "Contact" page of the IRW 2010 web pages at ~
www.irw.rocketry.org.uk
It is of course getting rather late to apply for Large Rocket Permission(s) for IRW 2010. All such applications are the responsibility of the person(s) building such rockets and intending to fly them. The requirements for Large Rocket flights at the IRW are given as item "Six" on the "Flying Programme & Rules" page at the above link. There you will also find Andy Sinclair's full contact details at the CAA. As well as CAA Permission, separate insurance cover, quite outside of the BMFA Third Party Liability insurance, is required. (It is this item, through the difficulty and cost in obtainig it that has, as I understand it, been a main show stopper for further non-commercial Large Rocket launches in the UK since that by Richard Brown at IRW 2007.)

A couple of other points.

In the case of the IRW, the "event sponsor" referred to on page 3 of the attached CAA document, is myself. As part of the issuance of the previous Large Rocket Permissions granted for the IRW I have received correspondence from the CAA in this matter. My responsibility as sponsor is to ensure that all legal, regulatory, insurance, technical, communications, range safety, and other requirements to safely and successfully support and conduct Large Rocket lauches at the Fairlie Moor Rocket Site (FMRS) are in place. This also applies to Large Rocket launches at the FMRS at any other time apart from the annual IRW. The FMRS is the home flying site of SARA (Scottish Aeronautics & Rocketry Assocaition) as well as the IRW. SARA, and the IRW (run jointly be me/STAAR Research and SARA) have exclusive rocket launch access and use of the FMRS, by arrangement with the land owners. This applies to rocket launches of any size amd class. Visiting rocket flyers and flying from other UKRA Members and Clubs are always of course welcome, but by prior notification, or general (as in the case of the annual IRW) or particular invitation, or other advance arrangement.

Full details, including maps and a wide field photograph of the FMRS are given in the other document attached here ~ "2010 SARA Rocket Flying Meetings".

I hope that this posting and the attached documents will be helpful to those planning and building Large Rocket projects in the UK either now or in the future.

If anyone has any queries, or requires further information on the above, please contact Andy Sinclair (ORA1) at the CAA, or myself, as appropriate.

I wish every success to all forthcoming Large Rocket projects.

Yours ever,

John Bonsor,
IRW 2010 Organiser,
SARA Secretary and Co-ordinator,
STAAR Research Operator.