Quote from Eric Becher on August 6, 2025, 9:29 am

During last Sunday’s launch it was brought to my attention, as well as to others’, that there was concern over the use of “sparky” motors and distance between personnel and the launch pads. I did a little research on the NAR website. I determined the following:

• All sparky motors are to be considered as “High Power” motors for the purposes of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) rules governing high power rockets. These rules serve to classify rocket motors and flights. (see below definition of a High Power Rocket)
• Per the NAR Safety guidelines, a high power rocket with a H or smaller motor should have a minimum distance from personnel of 100ft. (see below table - which applies to high power motors/flights only)
• The “Cleared Area” around the launch pad for such a HP rocket should be 50ft, but when using sparkies, that should be increased by 50%, or 75ft. The mowed, irrigated grass we fly on is “cleared” of debris, brush, and other fire hazards, so this is not an issue.

I do not see where the minimum distance should be 1500ft for the size rockets that we are flying, as proposed by the individual raising the issue.

That said – we were not quite at 100ft between some personnel and the launch pad that was used for the one sparky motor in question. It was probably half that distance to a few spectators and LCO, which is fine for any other motors that we use, just not sparkies.

Going forward, if a member wishes to fly a sparky motor, we will have to utilize Brian’s personal remote launch controller - IF he has made it available to us, and move the launch pad a few feet further away. That is unless or until we have a Club owned controller that can operate from 100ft away.

If you wish to fly a sparky motor, please bring this to the attention of the Launch Control Officer or Club leadership at the launch prior to loading the rocket on the pads, and we will do what we can to accommodate the flight.

This does not apply to other "normal" flights that we make 99.9% of the time, which are NOT considered high power - only to sparky motors.

Please also note that in the future, if there are questions or concerns during a launch, please raise them to the Launch Control Officer, and/or Club officers in a calm and reasoned manner. Safety is of primary importance to all of us, and we will listen to any valid concerns. But they should be raised calmly and factually so we may have a discussion and properly address the issues raised.

For those who don't know, a "sparky" motor is one that produces sparks in its exhaust, often with smoke and flame too. Designated motor types such as "Dark Matter", "Metalstorm", or "Skidmark" motors would fit into this category.