From: dormont@spot.Colorado.EDU (DORMONT WILLIAM  M)
Subject: Re: FAA WAIVERS?
Summary: not a rumor (somewhat long)
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 03:34:30 GMT

In article <1992Apr15.144411.22899@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> rbs@cyclops.micr.Virginia.EDU (Robert B. Sisk) writes:
>Recently I heard that the FAA has stopped granting wavers until some
>education process is in place (ie. the individual appling for the waver
>has attended an FAA course (Safety?)).  I was told that the current process
>was halted as a result of a violation by some Tripoli prefecture out west
>(ie. they flew without a waver).  Does anyone have any information about
>this RUMOR? 
>
>Bob
>-- 
>
>Robert B. Sisk
>NAR #53448				Internet: rbs@virginia.edu
>TRIPOLI #1583				UUCP:     uunet!virginia!rbs

Unfortunately, Bob, this is true.  The guilty club is Tripoli Colorado.
We had a waiver for a launch on March 28th, but most members (including
the prefect and the RSO's) could not make it because of bad weather.
A couple people did make it, and found the weather at Hartsel not so
bad.  An FAA official (for some reason) also showed up, and the members
went ahead and launched, not knowing that one of the RSO's had called
the FAA and cancelled the waiver.  The gentleman from the FAA apparently
did nothing to stop them, but reported their activities to his office.
The result was the suspension of waivers for about 10 states.
  Our club leaders worked very hard over the next week or so to 
straighten things out.  The result was that Tripoli Colorado had a 
meeting with our local FAA officials on April 11th.  The meeting was
set up as an "education" session.  Every member present was given a 
copy of Tripoli's rules as well as the appropriate FAA regulations. We
had a Q&A session, and then we each signed an affadavit stating that we
had read and will abide by said rules and regulations.  Our club now
requires that anyone launching in Colorado at a Tripoli-sponsored event
must read and sign such an affadavit.  The FAA gentlemen seemed to be
satisfied that we were responsible folks, and that the incident was 
isolated and won't be repeated.  We were encouraged to start the process
of creating some guidelines for Tripoli as a whole for educating the
general membership.  
  Later in the session with the FAA, the officials expressed interest in
helping our club find a better site than Hartsel.  Apparently, Hartsel is
underneath an approach to Gunnison Airport.  They would like to see us
set up an arrangement with the Air National Guard to use the Fremont
Military Operations Area, or arrange with Fort Carson to use their
restricted airspace (both near Colorado Springs).  These areas would
ensure that we had minimum possibility of a rocket-aircraft "incident."
Overall, I think the session was very productive, and although I did not
hear specifically what the status of waivered rocket flights was to be,
I believe that all should be well soon.  I will post more details when
I get them.  I think that our RSO, Mike Kunetka, may be preparing an
article for an upcoming Tripolitan.
  If anyone would like me to try to get specific info, please email
me at the address below, and I'll do my best to help.  On behalf of
Tripoli Colorado, I offer my sincere apologies for any loss of flying
time by anyone in the affected region, and I hope that this leads to 
more positive relations with the FAA.

                    Denny Powers
                    c/o dormont@spot.colorado.edu
                    Tripoli #1323