Still waiting to hear back from the FAA regarding approval of North Site waiver which has the 20K standing waiver and requests for specific days for windows. Just so happens, the specific days coincide with every planned day for the North site while the waiver is requested for a year increment. See no reason not to expect approval but haven't received it yet.

As I've said for 10 years now... we need to request 50K windows. 35 K has been OK... but everything I've doing is 35K+. you never know if you're gonna get it unless you ask... and rag them about it.

Got the approved waiver information today - as requested - windows available for the following specific dates at the North Site - May 3,4,5; June 1,2; July 6,7; August 10,11; September 7,8; and October 4,5,6 & 7.

Given the parameters for expanding the protected cylinder of airspace, that is, increasing the radius of the launch site, 50K waivers are not possible. It is already a stretch when we go from 2 nautical miles to the 5 nautical miles for the "windows".

And one catches more flies with honey than vinegar. Ragging on anyone is counter-productive.

Joe, ofrgive my ignorance. I have no idea what kind of hoops you have to jump through to get us our launch waivers. So to increase the radius of the launch cylinders would be necessary to go to 50k? What is required to increase that radius? If the adjacent land owners gave us permission to travel across there property, so that we could travel across any lands that are whithin a 5 mile radius, would that allow us to go higher? I can update my maps and addresses and start working on it. What say you?

I figure that I would have to talk to all of the land owners. Maybe invite them to some launches. Get them to trust a couple of us, and then see if they will give the authorizations. Then submit those with our request for higher waivers, or am I being really niave?

I'm certainly one of those flyers who would be interested in a higher waiver. But there are a couple of reasons to be careful. Most of the land beyond 2 mile radius to the north and east is private. As you fly higher, you need an increasing radius:height ratio to ensure the rocket comes down inside the cylinder. The higher we fly, the higher the winds are and the greater chance for an arcing flight.

A couple of months ago the arrival patterns to DIA changed- Flights from the west coast no longer come in over Rocky Mountain Park, they now drop down from a more NNWerly direction and are somewhat closer to our range. This probably necessitated moving other flight routes in our vicinity, so I'm glad we got the green light. I was a little worried.

Three years ago when I made my club-record K flight (was never posted), I landed on private land. I got permission from the landowner who was cordial, but when a second rocket landed and required crossing his land, he was not happy. I don't think we want the altitude aspirations of a select few club members to spoil the site for the whole club.

Perhaps there are other sites in CO where we the airspace and land ownership allowed for a 50K+ boost (a Tripoli CO site perhaps). That way if we got that site shut down for any reason, we'd still have the NCR sties

Joe,
Looks great - 6 weekends for call-ins to 35k is fantastic! Thank you for all the hard work you do getting the waivers in much appreciated! Hopefully we'll get some moisture and have a great flying year.

-Sean

Joe, those dates are great for the windows! Now we just need some weather cooperation. Thanks for the work that you put into acquiring those for us altitude junkies.

Projects that are going to exceed the 35K limit, just have to go somewhere like Black Rock to fly them. Like I need an excuse to go back there--what a cool place to fly.

Breaking 35 K is no mean feat. Our group has a two stage project to 25-32k. Having access to 35K waivers is great.

Over 35k and it's Black Rock in September for sure. I plan to break 20K this year. Otherwise, I've never exceeded 16K. You can get a lot of flying in under 20K and 35K gives you even more play room.

Nice job Joe. Now let's see how your rain dance works...