2025 Launch field restrictions

1. Rockets may NOT use any type of ejectable wadding. So no Estes-style "toilet paper" wadding, no cellulose "dog barf" wadding, no Quest crepe paper wadding, no ejectable foam plug wadding, etc.  Rockets will need to use ejection baffles, ejection pistons, attached nomex/kevlar cloth parachute protectors, or similar systems in order to be flown (unless they are a type of rocket that does not require wadding, such as those with burn-string or piston-activated recovery, or similar systems).

Reusable parachute protectors are available from a number of online rocketry retailers.

2. As always, Zia Spacemodelers does not allow any "spark effects" motors on our launch field.

3. The BLM requires that all chase vehicles used to recover rockets must be equipped with 50 pounds of ABC fire extinguishers and rake and shovel; so you are not allowed to use you car to recover rockets (unless so equipped). You can recover your rockets on foot.

4. Fliers may only fly rockets on this BLM site during our approved monthly launches. We are not allowed to use the field for flying rockets outside of those times.

In previous years, the BLM gave our club launches an exemption to the year-long general Fire Prevention Orders that BLM often issued sate-wide (because we had specific permission to conduct our activities, and had demonstrated many years of experience flying safely). A few years ago, the BLM added extra fire stipulations requiring (in addition to 100 pounds of fire extinguishers and concrete pads) a 300-gallon water sprayer system for any times when a Fire Prevention Order was in effect (such a sprayer system was beyond our means).

The BLM has now decided that if we can't knock down a fire quickly with our extinguishers and shovels, we should just call in the professionals, and a 300-gallon system would not be effective anyway if we couldn't get the fire out fast. So we once again have our exemption from the year-long Fire Prevention Orders -- but we will still need to cancel launches if there are Red Flag Warnings from the weather services, or if the Farmington/Taos BLM office specifically issues higher-level fire restrictions for our area (Please note that this CAN easily occur during the hotter/drier months of a year, so don't be surprised if we do have to cancel launches, even under these newer restrictions).

And, as always, we will be extra vigilant about what flights may be allowed in dry conditions (so multistage or cluster or untested rockets might not be allowed to fly, especially if there is substantial wind -- sorry, but safety is job 1 when running a rocket launch).