Article 7 Rockets

After article 87 there shall be inserted:

“Regulation of rockets

87A

(1)

(a)

Subject to sub-paragraph (b), this article shall apply to:

(i)

small rockets of which the total impulse of the motor or combination of motors exceeds 160 Newton-seconds; and.

(ii)

large rockets.

(b)

This article shall not apply to

(i)

an activity to which the Outer Space Act 1986^f1 applies; or

(ii)

a military rocket.

(2)

No person shall launch a small rocket to which this article applies unless the condition in paragraph (3), and any of the conditions in paragraph (4) which are applicable, are satisfied.

(3)

The condition first mentioned in paragraph (2) is that he has reasonably satisfied himself that:

(a)

the flight can be safely made; and

(b)

the airspace within which the flight will take place is, and will throughout the flight, remain clear of any obstructions including any aircraft in flight.

(4)

The conditions mentioned secondly in paragraph (2) are that:

(a)

for a flight within controlled airspace, he has obtained the permission of the appropriate air traffic control unit for aircraft flying in that airspace;

(b)

for a flight within an aerodrome traffic zone at any of the times specified in Column 2 of the Table in rule 39(1) of the Rules of the Air Regulations 1996^f2, he has obtained the permission of the air traffic control unit at the aerodrome or, where there is no air traffic control unit, he has obtained from the aerodrome flight information service unit at that aerodrome information to enable the flight within the zone to be conducted safely or, where there is no air traffic control unit nor aerodrome flight information service unit, he has obtained information from the air/ground radio station at that aerodrome to enable the flight to be conducted safely;

(c)

a flight for aerial work purposes is carried out under and in accordance with a permission granted by the CAA.

(5)

No person shall launch a large rocket unless he does so under and in accordance with a permission granted by the CAA.

(6)

For the purposes of this article a permission granted by the CAA shall be in writing and may be granted subject to such conditions as the CAA thinks fit.”.

In article 129(1) after the definition of “To land” there shall be inserted:

• “‘Large rocket’ means a rocket of which the total impulse of the motor or combination of motors is more than 10,240 Newton-seconds;”.

In article 129(1) after the definition of “Military aircraft” there shall be inserted:

• “‘Military rocket’ means:

  1. (a)

     any rocket being constructed for the naval, military or air force of any country under a contract entered into by the Secretary of State; and

  2. (b)

     any rocket in respect of which there is in force a certificate issued by the Secretary of State that the rocket is to be treated for the purposes of this Order as a military rocket;”.

In article 129(1) after the definition of “Replacement” there shall be inserted:

• “‘Rocket’ means a device which is propelled by ejecting expanding gasses generated in its motor from self contained propellant and which is not dependent on the intake of outside substances. It includes any part of the device intended to become separated during operation;”.

In article 129(1) after the definition of “Small balloon” there shall be inserted;

• “‘Small rocket’ means a rocket of which the total impulse of the motor or combination of motors does not exceed 10,240 Newton-seconds;”.