All launches must satisfy Tripoli safety code requirements. In addition, all activities must comply with METRA’s range rules.

Membership and Insurance

You must be a METRA member to fly at METRA launches, as well as a member of Tripoli or NAR. Please see this page for information on how to join METRA. If you are a first time visitor, we invite you to become a Trial METRA member for one day to check us out. Trial memberships cost only $10, however you will still need to pay the same range fee as other members. If you join METRA during the week after your trial, we will credit you the cost of the Trial membership. Please bring your Tripoli (or NAR) membership cards to launches, as we check that they are current at check-in.

All METRA launches are Tripoli Research Launches, with flyers covered by their Tripoli membership insurance. According to current rules, NAR members are allowed to fly Commercial motors (only) at Tripoli launches, with NAR insurance (as long as their projects are launched according to NAR rules). Commercial and Experimental motors may be flown simultaneously at METRA launches, but anyone who wishes to enter the High Power Pad area must be a Tripoli or NAR member, and be 18 or older. Note that the RSO/LCO may restrict the number of Tripoli/NAR members that can enter the pad area for crowd control and safety. To fly Research motors, a Flyer will have to present at least a Level-2 Tripoli membership. There will be a separate Low Power area for our Low Power flyers to launch their rockets using Commercial motors. Note that per Tripoli and NAR rules, those under 18 years old must have completed the Tripoli TMP or NAR Jr. level 1 certification to go to the high power pads.

Groups

METRA welcomes groups (scouts, high school, college, TARC, IREC, CAP, etc…) to visit and fly with us! Please let the METRA Prefect or President know ahead of time that you plan to attend a launch and how many participants there will be, and ask any questions you might have. We ask that you follow the same rules and guidelines as other flyers, including those specific to Groups that follow:

Low power flights: For projects that can fly at the low power pad, the Flyer need only be a METRA member, and pay a flight fee. If group members are all under 18 and flying low power, we ask the only the leader to join METRA and pay a flight fee. If larger projects require HP pad use (due to size, but still low power), the Flyer must be a Tripoli member as well to go to those pads. We will try to accommodate by bringing out a medium sized pad to the low power pad area as needed.

High power flights: METRA does not allow a “flyer of record” or an advisor to be the “Flyer” or to sign flight cards. The Flyer must be a member of the Group (typically a student) who was intimately involved in the construction of the rocket. Tripoli requires High Power Flyers to be Tripoli/NAR members and certified to the level required for the motor they wish to use. Flyers must also be a METRA member. There must be a different Flyer for each rocket. Per Tripoli/NAR rules, only the certified Flyer may handle motors, black powder, igniters, or the rocket once the motor or black powder is loaded. This includes loading the rocket on the pad – uncertified participants may not enter the HP pad area. Flyers agree to accept ALL LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY for their rocket and its flight, including any damage it might cause, and sign a METRA waiver form. We STRONGLY encourage all group members to join Tripoli and get certified (only $10 for students) – the knowledge gained will help enormously in the design and construction of group project(s).

Certification

All fliers must be certified by Tripoli or NAR for the level required by the motors they wish to fly. There are NO exceptions. This includes all high-school/college/and other competition groups – you must plan ahead to earn the certifications required for the motors you wish to fly. We will not make exceptions, so please don’t ask. The procedures for certification are published on the Tripoli (or NAR) sites. If there are any questions after checking there, please ask!

To Certify at METRA:

You must be a METRA member (Senior, Junior or Trial).

We request that ALL certification tests and flights be prearranged during the week before the launch with the Prefect or President.

Proof of Tripoli or NAR membership is required (bring your membership card(s)).

Flyers are expected to download the certification form from the Tripoli or NAR website, print it and fill it out, and bring it to the launch.

Any member who would like to make a certification attempt for ANY level is required to arrive at the field by 9 am and help with field setup, or commit to helping with cleanup at the end of the day.

Certification flights are flown between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM; we suggest you plan to be ready as early as possible. If you arrive late or wait until the last minute, there is a good chance you will not fly. Generally Tripoli certifications are only on Saturdays; NAR can be both days.

Launches

Setup: 8:30am – 9:30am
Flyers meeting: 9:30am
Flight Time: 10am – 5:30pm (seasonally dependent)
Teardown: Begins at or prior to end of scheduled launch
Note that cleanup on Sunday will often start early, ~3pm.

GO / NO GO for a current launch will be posted by 8pm the night before on our Website and sent out via email. Information will be updated as necessary thru the end of the launch weekend.

Our FAA Waiver is for a maximum flight altitude of 4500′ AGL.

Sanitary facilities (porta-johns) are available on-site.

Important notes: Always yield to ANY farm equipment on or near the launch site. This is a working farm and its farmers and employees always have the right of way. There is a 10MPH speed limit on any of the access roads and this will be strictly enforced.

We do not allow any dangerous payloads in rockets. This includes flares, smoke bombs/generators, explosives, or other combustibles, beyond that included with standard rocket motors in any flights. All payloads that are ejected from rockets must be able to recover safely. We require that you notify the RSO if there is anything unusual in your rocket before flight.

A Note about “Volunteering”

METRA exists only through the dedicated efforts of its membership. METRA members are encouraged to volunteer for a share of the work load.Setup and tear down are jobs that even children can pitch in on. Range duties include LCO, Pad Manager, and RSO (this position requires a L2 and a knowledge of flight readiness). We are in constant need of volunteers at each launch. PLEASE step up to the plate and take a swing at one of these tasks. If we all take a turn, we’ll all have a chance to fly. Range duty positions require little more than a few instructions and some common sense.

Range Fees

* Range fees are per launch weekend whether you fly one or both days.