S.I. No. 25/2000 - Irish Aviation Authority (Rockets and Small Aircraft) Order, 2000.

The Irish Aviation Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 5 , 58 and 60 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993 (No. 29 of 1993) as amended by the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act, 1998 (No. 24 of 1998), hereby orders as follows:

1. Applicability

(1) This order shall apply, unless otherwise specified herein, to a small aircraft not exceeding a maximum total weight of 20 kilograms, less fuel but including equipment or cargo, and to unmanned rockets exceeding 1.5 kilograms in fuelled weight and with more than 100 grams of propellant.

(2) The Order shall not apply to:

(a) fireworks used in aerial display where the maximum altitude reached is less than 400 feet above ground level at the launch site(s), unless launched within controlled airspace or an aerodrome traffic zone;

(b) to a model rocket using not more than 100 grams (0.1 kilogram) of propellant or using a slow burning propellant and made of paper, wood or frangible plastic containing no substantial parts and weighing no more than half a kilogram (0.5 kilogram) operated in a manner that does not create a hazard to persons, property or other aircraft;

(c) to a model aircraft of less than 1.5 kilograms maximum weight less fuel and constructed of wood, paper or frangible plastic containing no substantial parts and operated in a manner that does not create a hazard to persons, property or other aircraft.

2. This Order shall come into operation on the 1st day of March, 2000.

3. Definitions

“aerodrome” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Irish Aviation Authority Act;

“aerodrome traffic zone” means an airspace of dimensions defined by the Authority and established around an aerodrome for the protection of aerodrome traffic;

“the Authority” means The Irish Aviation Authority;

“controlled airspace” means an airspace of defined dimensions designated by the Authority within which an air traffic control service is provided to IFR flights and to VFR flights in accordance with the airspace classifications in Rule 26 of the Schedule to the Irish Aviation Authority (Rules of the Air) Order, 1999 ( S.I. No. 20 of 1999 );

“IFR” means the symbol used to designate the Instrument Flight Rules;

“restricted area” means an airspace of defined dimensions designated by the Authority above the land areas of the State or the territorial waters thereof, within which the flight of aircraft is restricted by the Authority in accordance with specified conditions;

“small aircraft” means any unmanned aircraft, other than a balloon or kite, weighing not more than 20 kilograms without its fuel but including any articles or equipment installed in or attached to the aircraft at the commencement of the flight;

“VFR” means the symbol used to designate the Visual Flight Rules.

Rockets

4. (1) A rocket shall not be operated by any person within the State unless that person gives the following information to Operating Standards Department of the Authority not less than 7 days prior to the launching of the rocket:

(a) the name(s) and address(es) of the person(s) responsible for the operation;

(b) the number of rockets to be operated if more than one;

(c) the size and estimated or projected weight of each rocket;

(d) the maximum estimated altitude or flight level to which each rocket will be operated;

(e) the location of the operation;

(f) the date, time and duration of the operation;

(g) any other pertinent information requested by the Authority.

(2) A rocket shall not be operated by any person:

(a) in a manner that creates a collision hazard with any aircraft;

(b) in controlled airspace;

(c) within eight kilometres of the boundary of any aerodrome or heliport;

(d) at any altitude where the horizontal visibility is less than eight kilometres;

(e) into any cloud;

(f) within 300 metres of any person or property that is not associated with the operation of the rocket; or

(g) between sunset and sunrise.

(3) A rocket may not be operated by any person within the airspace of a restricted area without the written permission of the Authority and, where given, subject to such conditions as are imposed with that permission.

(4) The Authority may refuse any application for permission to operate a rocket and may otherwise prohibit such an operation if it appears to it that it would be inexpedient in the interest of aviation safety to allow that operation to proceed.

Small Aircraft

5. (1) A person who has charge of the operation of a small aircraft shall not permit any article or animal, whether or not attached to a parachute, to be dropped from that aircraft so as to endanger persons or property.

(2) A person who has charge of the operation of a small aircraft which weighs more than 1.5 kilograms without fuel but including any articles or equipment installed in or attached to the aircraft at the commencement of its flight shall not allow such an aircraft to be flown within 5 kilometres from an aerodrome boundary and unless that person has taken reasonable precautions to ensure that the flight can safely be made.

(3) A person who has charge of the operation of a small aircraft which weighs more than 7 kilograms without fuel but including any articles or equipment installed in or attached to the aircraft at the commencement of its flight shall not allow such an aircraft to be flown:

(a) within controlled airspace, unless the permission of the Authority has first been obtained;

(b) within the aerodrome traffic zone of an aerodrome or within 5 kilometres from an aerodrome boundary, whichever is the greater distance;

(c) at a height of more than 400 feet (120 metres) above the surface of the earth, unless the permission of the Authority has first been obtained;

(d) for aerial work purposes other than in accordance with a permission issued by the Authority and in accordance with such conditions as may be imposed by the Authority with that permission;

(e) within 2 kilometres of an aircraft in flight.

(4) A person who has charge of the operation of an unmanned aircraft, which weighs more than 20 kilograms without fuel but including any articles or equipment installed in or attached to the aircraft at the commencement of its flight, shall not allow such an aircraft to be flown without the written permission of the Authority and subject to such conditions as are specified in relation to that permission.

Directions

6. The Authority may give directions for the purposes of giving effect to the provisions of this Order other than written permissions referred to herein and may exempt persons or operations from the provisions of this Order subject to such conditions as may be specified in relation to any such exemption. A condition specified in or with a written permission or in relation to an exemption in a particular case shall have the effect of a direction under this Order and shall be complied with by the person or persons to whom it applies.

SCHEDULE

Notifications to or applications for permission(s) to the Authority required under the Order shall be made to the following address—

Operating Standards Department

Irish Aviation Authority,

Aviation House,

Hawkins Street,

Dublin 2.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

This Order defines statutory provisions for the operation of small rockets and of certain small aircraft, hitherto only referenced in the AIP (Ireland), in order to bring to the attention of the public the permissions and precautions necessary in relation to these so as to avoid hazard to other users of the national airspace.