U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

Section 2. Processing of Proposals

31-2-1. REGIONAL/SERVICE AREA OFFICE REVIEW

a. The regional/service area office responsible for the launch's geographical area shall manage proposals for unmanned rocket and space launch activities. When a proposal overlaps regional/service area office geographical jurisdictions, the affected service area office shall coordinate to determine which office will serve as the lead region/service area office for processing the proposal. Coordination between regions/service area offices is also required when the affected geographical area and the ATC controlling agency are under the jurisdiction of different regional/service area offices.

b. Concerned regions/service area offices shall coordinate with the responsible military representative and ensure that all affected ATC facilities review the proposal and provide input to the aeronautical review, as required.

c. If the proposal requires FAA Headquarters review, the package shall include documentation of regional/service area office coordination, affected ATC facility comments, and any other information pertinent to the case.

d. As part of the rocket/launch-vehicle operation review process performed by the concerned service area office, or those facilities delegated waiver authority, coordination shall be effected with the Central Altitude Reservation Function (CARF), an element of the David J. Hurley Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC). This coordination is to ensure that any system impact(s) that may result from the requested operation are identified and resolved before a rocket/launch-vehicle operation waiver approval is finalized.

31-2-2. AERONAUTICAL REVIEW

The following information should be used as a guide for the conduct of an aeronautical review of rocket and launch-vehicle operations.

a. An aeronautical review of any rocket or launch-vehicle operation shall be conducted to determine if there are aeronautical impacts to be considered or resolved.

b. Rocket and launch-vehicle operations shall be categorized based on their operational characteristics and purpose of flight. These characteristics include, but are not limited to, size, total weight, propulsion, rocket motor design, and hardware design materials. The characteristics of the rocket/launch-vehicle will determine which parts of 14 CFR provisions will govern it.

c. The criteria for parts 101 and 400 rockets/launch-vehicles are described below.

1. Uses 4 ounces or less of slow-burning propellant.

2. Is made of paper, wood, or breakable plastic, containing no substantial metal parts - an amount necessary for structural integrity.

3. Weighs 16 ounces or less including the propellant.

4. Is operated in a manner that does not create a hazard to persons, property, or other aircraft.

d. If any of the above criteria are exceeded, then part 101 applies and subpart C, Unmanned Rockets, must be adhered to. Rockets will remain captured under part 101 until one of the criteria listed for part 400 is triggered.

e. Part 400. Any rocket or launch vehicle that meets any of the following criteria will be reviewed by AST under part 400 provisions. Such provisions are that the rocket:

1. Motor(s) exceed total impulse of 200,000 pound-seconds.

2. Motor(s) have a total burning time or operating time of 15 seconds or more.

3. Has a ballistic coefficient (gross weight in pounds divided by the frontal area of the rocket vehicle) of 12 pounds or more per square inch.

NOTE-
1. Part 101 rocket launch proposals that are a part of a competition for prize money will be reviewed by AST. Those proposals shall be sent to Airspace and Rules for processing.

2. Part 400 rockets/launch-vehicles will also exceed the criteria addressed in paragraph a., part 101 rockets. Therefore, waivers to part 101 will also be required.

31-2-3. HEADQUARTERS REVIEW

a. It is air traffic policy that proposals for rockets that are expected to reach altitudes higher than 25,000 feet above ground level and rockets/launch-vehicles categorized as "amateur" or licenseable under part 400, be forwarded to Airspace and Rules for FAA Headquarters review. Airspace and Rules will coordinate the proposal with AST-200, and submit a waiver recommendation to the service area office.

b. The package submission to FAA Headquarters should include the following (as applicable):

1. A transmittal memorandum containing a brief overview of the proposal and the region's/service area office's recommendation for headquarters action.

2. A summary of any amendments made to the original proposal in response to negotiations to mitigate impacts, etc.

3. A sectional aeronautical chart depicting the final boundaries of the proposed airspace area.

4. A copy of the proponent's launch request correspondence and proposal package.

5. A copy of the aeronautical review and the service area office recommendation.

6. Copies of pertinent correspondence from other FAA offices (e.g., Flight Standards, Airports, adjacent service area office, affected ATC facilities).

7. Any other information that should be considered by FAA Headquarters in making a final determination on the proposal (e.g., rocket/launch-vehicle propulsion, physical dimensions and weight, total impulse and burn time of the motor(s), launch site location, planned flight path/trajectory, including staging and impact locations).

c. Airspace and Rules will coordinate the proposal with AST-200.

d. Upon completion of the AST-200 review, the proponent's package, including the part 400 waivers, exemptions, and/or licenses (if applicable), shall be returned to Airspace and Rules for distribution to the service area office. For the proposals that have received favorable determinations by FAA Headquarters, the service area office shall, in turn, issue the part 101 waiver and forward the completed package to the proponent.

31-2-4. CONTROLLING AGENCY

The FAA ATC facility having control jurisdiction over the airspace where the rocket/launch-vehicle is projected to enter shall be designated as the controlling agency. The controlling agency will be responsible for ensuring that any temporary airspace (e.g., TFRs, ALTRVs) is activated when the launch operations are imminent, including any applicable downrange and terminal airspace.

31-2-5. SUITABLE AIRSPACE FOR LAUNCH OPERATIONS

Amateur rocket launches that will not enter controlled airspace do not require prior notice to the FAA. However, those proponents must ensure the safety of persons and property on the ground and of aircraft flying nearby. Conversely, rockets and launch-vehicles that will enter controlled airspace must be integrated with other users of the NAS and be segregated from nonparticipating aircraft to ensure safety. This shall be accomplished by requirements to the waivers to part 101.

a. Amateur rockets may not require sterile airspace. In these cases, the proponent and/or the service area office must:

1. Ensure that the activity is confined within the launch site area.

2. Cease activity immediately upon observation or notification that a nonparticipating aircraft is approaching the area. Surveillance by ground observers shall be continuously maintained immediately prior to and during the time that the activity is in progress to ensure adequate coverage of the required area. If required by the service area office, observers shall have real-time communication capability (radio, cellular phones, etc.) with the FAA facility to ensure a cease-fire can occur immediately. The activity may resume only after the nonparticipating aircraft are clear of the area and will not interfere with launch operations.

3. Ensure that adequate safety precautions are in place for each launch site. Specific precautionary measures established to protect nonparticipating aircraft, persons, and property will depend on various factors such as the type of activity, terrain, launch site dimensions, etc.

b. Existing SUA may be used only if permission has been granted by the using agency or controlling agency, as appropriate. The responsibility is on the proponent to obtain the required permission.

c. Temporary flight restrictions (TFR) for space flight operations (SFO) as described in Section 91.143 may be used to provide protection from potentially hazardous situations for nonparticipating aircraft and rocket/space launch operations.

d. An altitude reservation (ALTRV) may be used but only to sterilize Class A airspace within which it operates. ALTRVs do not sterilize airspace below Class A airspace.

e. When sterile airspace is required for rocket and launch-vehicle launch operations, the dimensions and times of use of that airspace shall be the minimum required to contain the proposed activities, including required safety zones. When it is determined that the airspace is no longer required, the service area office, using agency, or the appropriate military authority providing SUA shall initiate action to release that airspace to the NAS.

f. Launch sites should be located in areas that will minimize the impact on nonparticipating aircraft and ATC operations. To the extent practical, plan launch sites, and rocket/launch-vehicle trajectories to avoid airways/jet routes, major terminal areas, and known high-volume VFR routes.