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<title>Pyro III Experience</title>
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<h1>Pyro III Licensee Experience </h1>
<h4><a href="#References">Table of References</a></h4>
<p> I believe
it was Feb 2003 when we, the LUNAR Rocketry club, found ourselves at a rocket
launch and no Pyro III (Pyrotechnic Operator - Rocketry Class III) on site.
So at our semi monthly LUNAR meetings we adopted a motion to commission 5
Pyro III’s.
Luckily, our only Pyro III, Joe Heckenbach, attended the meeting and he dropped
a hint for us 5 potential Pyro III. “When it comes time to study for
your test, you only need to look at the rocketry parts. You can skip all
the fireworks
stuff.” These were some immortal words I would hold on to dearly. </p>
<p>If you are new to this rocketry
stuff, you might be wondering right now, what is a Pyro III? Well, according
to the “<a href="FireworksHandbook2003.pdf" target="_blank">LAWS AND REGULATIONS
FOR TRANSPORTATION, USE AND STORAGE OF FIREWORKS IN CALIFORNIA</a>”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Pyrotechnic Operator--Rockets Third Class may purchase,
transport, store, and launch high power rockets. Experimental high power
rocket motors may only be imported, exported, and wholesaled by individuals
or companies holding valid import, export, or wholesale licenses. Pyrotechnic
Operators-- Third Class may only purchase high powered rocket motors from
licensed wholesalers. Operators licensed under subsection (b) are also required
to obtain a local permit from the authority having jurisdiction prior to
all launches.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>To simplify this, we have to have
Pyro III to fly Experimental High Power rockets. Dare I define this? Sure!
I compiled this from a couple of sources and I think it meets the intent
of the code book. It’s a rocket that (1) is propelled by one or more high
power rocket motors (more than 160 Newton-seconds (36 lb.-seconds) of total
impulse or an average thrust greater than 80 N (18 Ibs) or more than 62.5
g (2.2 oz) of propellant,) ; (2) is propelled by a combination of model rocket
motors having an installed total impulse of more than 320 N-sec (71.9 Ib-sec);
(3) is propelled by a combination of model rocket motors having more than
a total of 125 g (4.4 oz) of propellant weight; or (4) weighs more than 1500
g (53 oz) with motor(s) installed. <a href="RocketRestrictions.htm" target="_blank">Here
is a table I hope makes it easier. </a></p>
<p>First step, make the call to Sacramento.
Debbie handled my call at 916-445-8373. I asked for application material
for obtaining a Pyro III license. She sent me “<a href="Pyro%20Technician%20Certification%20Instructions.doc" target="_blank">Pyro
Technician Certification Instructions</a>”,“<a
href="Application%20for%20Pyro%20License.doc" target="_blank">Application
for Pyro License</a>”, a <a href="FingerPrintCard.jpg" target="_blank">finger print card</a>, and 5 copies of “<a
href="Pyro%20Technician%20Affidavit.doc" target="_blank">Pyro Technician Affidavit</a>” or from the state “<a
href="http://www.osfm.fire.ca.gov/strucfireengineer/pdf/fireworks/ReferenceLetter.pdf" target="_blank">Pyro Technician Affidavit.</a>” You
have to get the statements and signatures from 5 Pyro III on the Pyro Technician
Affidavits.</p>
<p>First stop was my local police station.
I walked into Hayward police station and asked to get finger printed. They
took $10 from me and asked me to wait. It only took about 10 min for someone
to get me and take me behind the bullet proof Plexiglas. When I entered the
finger print room, I could see the large round ink disk that I had seen on
TV where they inked suspect’s fingers. Hayward police also had a scanner.
The police officer escorted me to the scanner and proceeded to scan my fingers.
I asked about the relic ink disk behind us. She relied, “We keep that for
the people who come in the back door.” </p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> <em>This is specific to anyone
currently applying for a Cal Pyro III. As of July 1,2005, the DOJ (and
hence the entire state of CA) no longer accepts fingerprint cards. As a
result,
you must find a "Live Scan" facility (<a href="http://caag.state.ca.us/fingerprints/publications/contact.htm" target="_blank">http://caag.state.ca.us/fingerprints/publications/contact.htm</a> for
a list) and getting fingerprinted. BTW., the billing code (for the DOJ
to bill the OFM) was incorrect on my form. It should be 100089. Take <a href="mailto:caroline.fudge@fire.ca.gov">Caroline
Fudge's</a> number 916-445-8373 with you when you go
to the Live Scan
facility.
Live Scan is not as ubiquitous as ink fingerprinting, so it may be a bit of
a pain to find a facility. Also, the little portable scanners are very new
and don't work very well, so be prepared to spend an hour or two getting
your fingerprints submitted. It seems to now be around $18.
</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Next I had to find 5 Pyro III. First
one was easy. Joe Hackenbach. Next I scheduled my family for a Fresno launch
hoping to get some signatures. We had a fine Easter day launch flying plastic
Easter eggs filled with M&Ms. I didn’t get signatures and that’s all
I’ll say about that. </p>
<p>Keeping the membership database has
its advantages. I looked in the database and found we had 6 Pyro III registered
with LUNAR. So I started calling them to see if they’d sign my paperwork.
Each one agreed. I filled in all the information on the affidavit so they
only had to sign and put their number on it. Two weeks later and I had all
5 signatures.</p>
<p>Armed with 5 affidavits, my finger
print card, my application and $87, I sent the whole works to the “<a href="http://www.fire.ca.gov" target="_blank">CDF/STATE
FIRE MARSHAL</a>” and waited to receive my study packet. </p>
<p>At the May LUNAR launch, we didn’t
have a Pyro III again. I pointed out one of the people who signed my paperwork.
He said, “I’m Certified level III, not a Pyro III.” Oh, boy. One of my signatures
was no good. Would the “CDF/STATE FIRE MARSHAL” catch the problem? A week
and a half later, I got my study packet “<a
href="FireworksHandbook2003.pdf" target="_blank">Laws and Regulations for Transportation, Use and Storage of
Fireworks in California</a>” and an “<a
href="Examination%20Eligibility%20Notification.doc" target="_blank">Examination
Eligibility Notification</a>” letter. Guess they missed that one of
my signatures was not valid.</p>
<p>The instructions on the Examination
Eligibility Notification say to call and schedule a test within 30 days of
receiving this letter. Swell, I was going on 6 weeks of vacation. There was
no chance of me getting this done before I left. I called and they said “No
Problem, just give us a call when you get back.”</p>
<p>After returning from a 6,000 mile
journey going through Air Museum at Hill AFB Ogden, UT, Iowa, LDRS XXII in
Argonia, KS, a Titian II missile silo south of Tucson, AZ and the Tucson,
AZ Air and Space museum, I made the call. My test date was the next week,
10am Wednesday Aug 13 in Sacramento. One of two places in the state where
you can take the test.</p>
<p>The morning of the test, I dressed
in appropriate attire. Dress pants, dress shoes and “As a matter of a fact,
I am a Rocket Scientist” t-shirt. Armed with my GPS, 4 diet A&W Root
Beers in a cooler and a bag of Twizzlers (don’t laugh, I already know but
I had to keep awake), I was set for my 2-hour drive. I allowed 3 hours for
traveling through whatever unknown traffic I was about to face. Fortune smiled
on me and I arrived 2-hours after I left. An hour ahead of my test time. </p>
<p>I checked in at the CDF/State Fire
Marshals office and they said I could take my test early. 9:15am and I was
seated in an office with a 50 true-false question test. Let me warn you that
this test is littered with what I would call bad questions. I work in the
teaching industry and I’ve had education in question writing. So I have a
bit of an unfair advantage. But I’m sure all of you will recognize what is
wrong with these questions. </p>
<p>I’ll give you an example. “It is
permissible to launch rockets in winds less than 40 mph.” Now is that “True”
or “False”? I’ll put the question into terms that we can all understand.
“It is legal to drive less than 100mph.” My freeway is posted 65mph. 60mph
is legal and that is less than 100mph. So it’s true. But 90 is less than
100mph and that is not legal. So it’s false. The sorry point of this story
is that I don’t know which is the correct answer. True or false? I do know
that the limit is 20mph winds for flying rockets. There were at least 4 questions
of this nature on my test and they sorely irritated me. </p>
<p>Similarly, but easier to answer,
was questions like this. “It is permissible to launch rockets at an angle
of less than 20 degrees from vertical.” I thought I knew that the limit is
30 degrees, so in all cases less than 20 degrees, this statement remains
true. Not so fast though. Part 5 of the study guide says: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>“4.17.4 A model rocket shall not
be launched at an angle greater than 30 degrees from vertical.” </p>
</blockquote>
<p>However, Part 3, Article 18. Experimental
High Power Rockets and Motors, section §1036. Launching Facilities says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“A launch angle of not more than
twenty degrees (20E) from the vertical shall be used.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Swell, which is correct? Fortunately
for this question it didn’t matter.</p>
<p>So now it’s time to fulfill my foreshadowing.
In the immortal words of my mentor Joe Heckenbach, “When it comes time to
study for your test, you only need to look at the rocketry parts. You can
skip all the fireworks stuff.” I had studied Part 5, the rocketry parts.
It’s essentially a copy of the model rocketry safety code. Now after taking
the test and trying to find all the questions I didn’t know, I’m guessing
that Part 5 is the model rocketry handbook and has no bearing on California
law. Because in Part 2, State Fireworks Regulations, which is from Title
19 of the California Code of Regulations, it quotes Chapter 6, articles 16,
17 and 18 which are all about rockets. You’ll need to study these too. Part
2 has some contradictions to Part 5 and apparently it takes precedence because
that is what is on the test. </p>
<p>A big item is the definitions. Part
5 defines:
<blockquote> “<b>3.3.4
High Power Rocket Motor.</b> A
rocket motor that has more than 160 N-sec (36 lb-sec) but no more than
40,960 N-sec (9208 lb-sec) of total impulse or an average thrust greater
than 80 N (18 lbs) or more than 62.5 g (2.2 oz) of propellant, and that
otherwise meets the other requirements set forth in NFPA 1125, <i>Code
for the Manufacture of Model Rocket and High Power Rocket Motors.”</i><p></p>
</blockquote>
<p>While Part 2 defines:
<blockquote>
“<b>(4) Experimental High Power Rocket
Motor. </b>A State Fire Marshal approved, commercially manufactured rocket
propulsion device containing a solid propellant charge wherein all the
ingredients are pre-mixed and which produces more than 160 Newton-seconds
(36 lb.-seconds) but shall not exceed 10,240 Newton-seconds (2302.2 lb.-seconds)
of total impulse.”<p></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The test only uses the language of
Experimental High Power Rocket Motor. So this is where we learn about the
California M motor (10,240NSec) limit and N (20,480NSec) total impulse. While
the Model Rocketry handbook goes to O motors. In addition, a G125 which has
less than 160Nsec of impulse is a model rocket motor according to the Model
Rocketry handbook but it’s an experimental high power motor according to
CA because it’s over 80N of average impulse. Fortunately you don’t have to
keep them straight for the test, you only need to know California’s rules.
But talking to out of state rocketeers and lead to confusion. </p>
<p>How about High Power Rocket, or in
CA lingo Part 2, Article 18 of the manual, </p>
<blockquote>
<p>“<b>(3) Experimental High Power Rocket. </b>Non-Professional
rockets which are propelled by commercially manufactured high-power solid
propellant rocket motors.” </p>
</blockquote>
<p>That’s not much of a definition.
Does that mean a hybrid rocket motor is not covered in CA? So you can fly
an L hybrid with without needing a Pyro III license? I doubt it. In part
5, it says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“<b>High Power Rocket.</b> A rocket
that (1) is propelled by one or more high power rocket motors; (2) is propelled
by a combination of model rocket motors having an installed total impulse
of more than 320 N-sec (71.9 Ib-sec); (3) is propelled by a combination of
model rocket motors having more than a total of 125 g (4.4 oz) of propellant
weight; or (4) weighs more than 1500 g (53 oz) with motor(s) installed.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Now that is a definition! Is California
following this? In some ways no, and it’s not on the test so you don’t have
to worry about it.</p>
<p>Additional things that were on the
test were:</p>
<ol>
<li>“With proper ventilation can you
static test a rocket motor indoors.” No you may not conduct static testing
indoors. There were two questions on this worded slightly differently.<br>
</li>
<li>“You may launch rockets with the
launch pads within 750, 500 feet of the edge of launch site.” It never
says what impulse of motor. So how can you answer this? According to the
Model
rocketry handbook, 50 feet is fine for A motors. Part 2 lists the smallest
site dimension is for H motors and it’s 1500 feet. I guess I got this
right because I called both questions false. But I called them false because
I
knew I could fly A’s at 50 feet. <br>
</li>
<li>“It OK to include a major highway
on the edge of the launch site as part of your recovery area.” This
didn’t seem very wise so I answered false. I did find it in the book too.<br>
</li>
<li>“Minimum visibility above a launch
site is 5,000, 10,000 feet.” What is the answer to this one? I know
that we can not fly rockets into clouds. Knowing my rocket only goes to 900
feet,
and the clouds are at 2,000 feet. I can fly. So I called both of
these answers false. No way to answer without knowing how high the flights
were suppose
to go. Later I did find that Part 2 specifies 5,000 feet. Yet another
contradiction in the book, because Part 5 says do not fly into the clouds. <br>
</li>
<li>“17 year old with out a Pyro III
license may purchase Rocket motors.” I still haven’t fully sorted
this one out. Part 2, Article 18 says:
<p>“<b><i>§1027. Minimum Age </i></b></p>
<blockquote>
<p class="Level10">(a) No model rocket motors shall be sold, given, or delivered
to any person under 18 years of age. <b><i></i></b></p>
<p>EXCEPTIONS: </p>
<p>(1) Model rocket
motors bearing the standardized coding 1/4A, 1/2A, A, B, C, and D may be
sold, given, or delivered to any person 14 years of age or older. </p>
<p>(2) Persons who
are 12 years of age or older and who are taking part in a model rocket
education program may receive model rocket motors and launch approved
model rockets
motors when under the direct supervision and control of a person 18
years of age or older. Model rocket motors must be obtained only from
the adult
in charge of the launching. Approved model rocket motors for this exception
shall bear the motor coding 1/4A, 1/2A, A, B, C or D.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>While Part 5 says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Purchasing or using by persons 17
years old or younger of Type G model rocket motors that do not meet the
specifications of 16 CFR 1500.85(8) and (9), “Consumer Product
Safety Commission Regulations.”</p>
<p>Purchasing or using by persons 17
years old or younger of reloadable model rocket motors or motor reloading
kits that do not meet the specifications of 16 CFR 1500.85(8) and (9), “Consumer
Product Safety Commission Regulations.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Amazingly, none of this says anything
about a Pyro III license. But in Part 2, Article 18 it says :</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Ҥ1033. License Required. </p>
<p>No person shall
possess, receive, transport, store, or launch any experimental high
power rocket motor without first securing a valid license as a Pyrotechnic
Operator--
Rockets First, Second, or Third Class from the State Fire Marshal.
No person shall sell an experimental high power rocket motor to any person
unless
the seller possesses a valid license as a wholesaler or retailer under
this chapter. ”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So on a test that is about obtaining
a Pyro III license with a question that does not mention the type of rocket
motor, should you assume it is about an Experimental High Power Rocket Motor?
I guess so, so I missed this question.</p>
</li>
<li>“A Pyro III can sell rocket motors.” This is false, you must
have a retailer license. <br>
</li>
<li>“Spectator Restraints are required
for a crowd of over 200 people.” I guessed true. Now it’s time to look it
up. Part 2, Article 18 says:
<blockquote>
<p>Ҥ1037. Launch Site
Standards </p>
<p>(g) The launching
area shall have appropriate barriers around it such that spectators
will be restrained from encroaching upon it. These barriers may be
of any type
approved by the authority having jurisdiction.”</p>
<p>This statement is without regard
to numbers of people. I assume I got it right. </p>
</blockquote>
</li>
</ol>
<p>Disagreements:</p>
<ol>
<li>Table 18A lists minimum distance
from launcher for total impulse from 0-320Nsec as 30 feet where as the
model rocketry handbook lists 0-30NSec as 15 feet and Over 30Nsec as 30 feet.<br>
</li>
<li>Part 1, Chapter 1, Section 12519
says a model rocket is less than 500g where as the Part 5, Chapter 3,
says 453g.</li>
</ol>
<p>In the end, I passed. 70% is minimum.
I got 72%. That means I got 36 of 50 questions correct. I could have missed
one more and still passed.</p>
<p>It think this test needs a statement
at the beginning that says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“All the questions in the test are
assumed to concern Experimental High Power Rockets and Motors. Answer
all questions as it applies to these unless otherwise stated.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>If you have any questions please
feel free to contact me in any of the following manners. </p>
<p>Anthony M. Cooper<br>
31120 Chicoine Ave.<br>
Hayward, CA 94544-7432<br>
510-471-3648<br>
<a href="mailto:Tony@Coopers.org%3ESubj:Pyro%20III">Tony@Coopers.org</a></p>
<table width="100%" border="1">
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><strong>Reference<a name="References"></a></strong></td>
<td class="Normal"><strong>Description</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a
href="Application%20for%20Pyro%20License.doc" target="_blank">Application for
Pyro License</a></td>
<td class="Normal"><p>Microsoft Word document. It's the actual California Class
III Pyrotechnician license application.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a href="http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.3.15&idno=14#14:2.0.1.3.15.3.9.3" target="_blank">Code of Federal Regulations FAR 101</a></td>
<td class="Normal">HTML web page.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a
href="Examination%20Eligibility%20Notification.doc" target="_blank">Examination
Eligibility Notification</a></td>
<td class="Normal">Microsoft Word document. After returning the above documents
to the CDF, you'll get this notifcation that you are eligible to take the
exam. </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a href="FingerPrintCard.jpg" target="_blank">Finger Print
card</a></td>
<td class="Normal">JPG graphic. An example of a finger print card that comes
with your application for a California Class III Pyrotechnician license. </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a href="http://nar.org/NARhpsc.html">High Power Rocket
Safety Code</a></td>
<td class="Normal">NAR handbook on how to fly High Power rockets safely.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a href="FireworksHandbook2003.pdf" target="_blank">Laws
and Regulations for Transportation, Use and Storage of Fireworks in
California 2003 Edition PDF</a></td>
<td class="Normal">Adobe Acrobate document that explains the "Laws and
Regulations for Transportation, Use and Storage of Fireworks in California." It
also includes the model rocketry safety handbook as a reference.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a href="http://nar.org/NARmrsc.html">Model Rocketry Safety
Code</a></td>
<td class="Normal">NAR handbook on how to fly model rockets safely.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a href="http://www.nfpa.org/catalog/search.asp?pagenum=1&query=rocketry" target="_blank">NFPA
Codes</a></td>
<td class="Normal">NFPA Catalog search results on Rocketry. I find it hard
to belive these folks sell these. Seems it should be a free download. </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a href="http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/fireworks.html" target="_blank">Office
of the State Fire Marshall, Fireworks Program</a></td>
<td class="Normal">Online reference. Check here to see if there are updates.
Last time I looked, "Laws and Regulations for Transportation, Use
and Storage of Fireworks in California" link was in the lower right
corner.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a
href="Pyro%20Technician%20Affidavit.doc" target="_blank">Pyro Technician Affidavit</a></td>
<td class="Normal">Microsoft Word document. When applying for a California
Class III Pyrotechnician license, you must get 5 references who must fill
out these affidavits.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><u><a href="http://www.osfm.fire.ca.gov/strucfireengineer/pdf/fireworks/ReferenceLetter.pdf" target="_blank">Pyro Technician Affidavit</a></u></td>
<td class="Normal">PDF option to the above documents. When applying for a California
Class III Pyrotechnician license, you must get 5 references who must fill
out these affidavits.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><u><a href="Pyro%20Technician%20Certification%20Instructions.doc" target="_blank">Pyro
Technician Certification Instructions</a></u></td>
<td class="Normal">Microsoft Word document. It's the instructions you get
when you apply for a California Class III Pyrotechnician license.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a href="http://xtratime.net/leup/leup.htm" target="_blank">Road
to a LEUP</a></td>
<td class="Normal">Tony Alcocer write up on getting a LEUP.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a href="SiteDimensions.htm" target="_blank">Table of
Distances</a></td>
<td class="Normal">HTML Page that lists site distances from launcher and
houses in relation to motor size.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="350" class="Normal"><a href="RocketRestrictions.htm" target="_blank">Table
of Flight Restrictions</a></td>
<td class="Normal">HTML page that I created to attempt to make it simple
to understand what your restrictions are to flying rockets in California.</td>
</tr>
</table>
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