[roc-chat] Oregon Rocketry
- From: "Ken Curran" <rocket1dog@xxxxxxx>
- To: <roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:36:06 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Having internet issues. This is a FYI. Hope it's not a duplicate.
Range Operations
Safe and efficient operation of the launch range requires a large number of
volunteers. Please do your part.
Safety Officers
Tripoli requires that an L2-certified individual be appointed RSO and be
on-site during the launch. NAR ??strongly recommend[s] that a Range Safety
Officer be appointed and on duty at all times? but doesn?t specify
qualifications for the RSO. Neither Tripoli or NAR details the authority or
responsibility of the RSO or how or when the RSO can delegate authority to
others.
Both Tripoli and NAR refer to ?the RSO? as a single individual. We?ve used
the term more loosely, to mean anyone empowered to certify rockets for
flight. Although we haven?t had any problem with this in the past and it may
not ever matter, we should be a little clearer about our lines of
responsibility. In this document, ?the Range Safety Officer? or ?the RSO?
refers to a single person responsible for overall safety at the launch.
Other terms such as ?Flight Safety Officer? will be used to refer to people
designated by the RSO to make safety-related decisions on the flying field.
Tripoli requires that the RSO have an L2 certification. Since Tripoli
recognizes NAR (and CAR) certifications at combined Tripoli/NAR events, we
believe that either a Tripoli or NAR L2 certification is acceptable for our
Saturday-Sunday launches. Note that this doesn?t apply to ?EX? days, since
NAR doesn?t have any experimental program. In the future, the NAR Trained
Safety Officer (TSO) program may become an acceptable alternative to L2
certification or even a requirement for safety officers at NAR-sanctioned
launches. We encourage members to start the TSO training process so that
we?ll be ready when this happens.
The RSO may delegate safety-related decisions to other individuals with or
without L2 certification. It is the responsibility of the RSO to choose
individuals who can be trusted with that authority, and the responsibility
of those individuals to understand and act within the limits of their own
knowledge and that authority. Regardless of their experience and assignment,
all of these people carry the same authority as the RSO. Their decisions may
not be challenged on the flying field, and may only be overruled by the RSO,
and then only when the RSO believes that the original decision was unsafe.
Range Safety Officer
official responsibility for all safety-related issues
responsible for appointing or approving all other safety officers
can delegate authority to other safety officers
must have Tripoli or NAR L2 certification
the RSO is always ?on call? for safety issues; use FRS channel 9 for
emergencies
Deputy Safety Officer
same authority as the RSO
responsibility as delegated by the RSO
doesn?t require high-power certification, but the RSO should take
certification level and experience into account when choosing someone to
handle a particular area
may also be referred to as ?Safety Check-in Officer?, ?Flight Check-in
Officer? or simply ?Safety Officer?
Launch Control Officer
handles load/fire/recover sequence for each rack
declares ?range open? and ?range closed?
monitors range for interference and/or safety problems
pushes the buttons
The following tasks may be performed by the LCO or an assistant:
announces flights on the PA system
monitors descending rockets for safety hazards (separation, rocket headed
for spectators, etc.)
records flight results on the flight cards
monitors the radio emergency channel (FRS channel 9)
assists fliers with loading
handles problems with the pads
Operations Officers
These people are responsible for smooth operation of the range. None of
these positions requires any particular certification, but may require some
experience.
Launch Director
FAA notification
arrangements with the landowner
arrangements for porta-potties
arrangements for getting the trailer to and from the launch site
setup and teardown coordination
weather control
RSO Coordinator
recruits and assigns safety officers to work at specific times and positions
keeps track of who?s officially ?on duty? and who?s available to answer
questions and do fill-in duty
Booth Manager
public representative of the club
register fliers (collect signed disclaimer and range fee)
guide new fliers through range procedures
answer other questions and distribute information about the club and
launches
Pad Manager
check that fliers have paid range fees and filled out flight cards (with
RSO/FCO initials)
assigns rockets to racks and pads
Spotters
monitor descending rockets so the LCO can concentrate on launching
mark direction of downed rockets to aid in recovery
assist fliers with recovery
spotters communicate with fliers on FRS channel 11
Communications
The public address system at the LCO table is the primary means of
communicating with fliers and spectators as a group. The PA signal is also
broadcast on FM 96.7 MHz with a low-power transmitter. Fliers and spectators
are encouraged to use a Walkman-style receiver to monitor the LCO
announcements while on the range.
FRS (Family Radio Service) channel 9 is reserved for emergency
communications and communications related to range safety. The LCO and RSO
monitor FRS channel 9. Deputy RSOs and other range officers are encouraged
to monitor FRS channel 9 as well. Anyone may call channel 9 with an
emergency message (fire, someone injured while recovering a rocket, etc.).
Range officers may also use channel 9 for issues that don?t qualify as an
emergency but need attention by the RSO or LCO.
Volunteer spotters monitor FRS channel 11. Fliers may use channel 11 to ask
for assistance in tracking a rocket or locating a downed rocket. This is
something new we?d like to try in order to reduce the number of rockets lost
in the sagebrush at Brothers. Please monitor channel 11 and try to help out
when you can.
Per FCC rules, we can?t prevent other use of these frequencies by the
general public, but we will enforce these policies on the range. Fliers,
spectators and their families may use other FRS, HAM and cell frequencies as
desired, but anyone who persists in interfering with official communications
on these two channels will be required to turn in their radio and/or leave
the range.
Although we have no set policy about the use of other RF transmitters (e.g.
for rocket control, telemetry or tracking) we request that anyone planning
to do this contact the RSO and LCO well ahead of their flight so that we can
coordinate frequency usage with other fliers.
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