Tampa Bay Rocketry Association
TBRA
1. General Information
1.1 The Tampa Bay Rocketry Association launch site is located on private property, within an established Scout Camp Reservation. All persons attending a TBRA launch event, whether as a participants, vendors, or spectators, are required to follow and abide by these procedures intended to protect the landowner's property, and everyone's safety.
1.2 Failure to follow these procedures will result in your being asked to leave the launch site property, or other action as deemed appropriate by the TBRA Prefect or Range Safety Officer (RSO).
2. Launch Site Availability and Access
2.1 The launch site is available only thru TBRA affiliation, on the posted launch dates and times. All permissions are negotiated by, and granted exclusively to the Tampa Bay Rocketry Association in order for maintain launch site insurance under the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA). For that reason, all launches require TBRA approval.
2.2 If for any reason a special launch time/date is needed for TARC, NSL, school events, scouts, etc., please contact the TBRA Prefect to submit a formal request. No launches will take place without the acknowledgement and approval of the TBRA Prefect and the reservation manager.
2.2(a) Special launch date requests must be submitted to the TBRA Prefect a minimum of two (2) weeks in advance of the desired date in order for TBRA to obtain approval from the reservation manager.
2.2(b) Special launch activities require the presence of at least one (1) TBRA officer.
2.2(c) Special launch date requests may or may not be approved, depending on scout requirements, and the availability of TBRA personnel.
2.3 Site access is not permitted except on designated launch days. If you need to access the property at any other time, you must submit a request to the TBRA Prefect at least one week in advance of the date desired. Anyone entering the property without prior clearance will be considered as trespassing and subject to arrest by the local authorities.
2.4 Scheduled and/or announced launch events may be rescheduled or cancelled without notice due to weather conditions and/or scout requirements.
2.5 All adult persons attending a TBRA launch event must read and sign the TBRA Landowner Waiver of Liability. Failure or refusal to sign the Release of Liability will result in you being asked to leave the launch site property.
2.6 All minors attending a TBRA launch event must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult. In addition, the TBRA Minor Child Release and Waiver of Liability must be completed by a parent or legal guardian. Failure or refusal to sign the Minor Release will result in you and your minor being asked to leave the launch site property.
2.7 All persons attending a TBRA launch event are permitted access to the launch site area only. No one attending a TBRA launch event will enter any other area(s) without prior approval of the TBRA Prefect and the scout reservation manager.
3. Personal Conduct
3.1 TBRA practices minimum-impact operations. Our goal is to leave the launch site with little or no evidence that we were there. We must ensure that we do not adversely impact the land, wildlife or scout activities. We are guests on the property, and must act accordingly. We need the landowner more than the landowner needs us.
3.2 Do not attempt to interact with any scouts that you may encounter on the property. While driving on the launch site property, wildlife and scouts will always be granted the right of way.
3.2(a) Leave all gates just as you find them. If you open a gate, ensure that you close it. Do not assume that someone else will close it for you.
3.2(b) Please observe and follow any signs and/or markers. Maximum speed on the scout reservation is 10 MPH.
3.2(c) We have permission to drive into and park in the launch site area only. No one is permitted to enter any scout activity, camping or housing area. If you are not familiar with the property and where we are and are not permitted to drive, contact a TBRA officer for further guidance before proceeding.
3.2(d) Motorized vehicles are permitted in the launch site area only, and must remain on established roads at all times while on the Scout Reservation.
3.3 Do not climb over or stand on fences or gates. Follow a fence until you reach a gate. If the gate is locked, do not proceed any further. Return to the launch area, and we will contact the reservation manager for guidance.
3.4 If a rocket "lawn darts" into a pasture or any type of agricultural area, use extreme care in removing it. Do not take a shovel and proceed to dig it up.
3.5 The Scouts have allowed the use of a restroom near the launch site. We are permitted to use this facility only. Please keep it neat and clean. Follow all directions posted inside the facility, and do not dispose of trash in the toilet.
3.6 Cutting, uprooting, or destruction of trees or other vegetation is prohibited. Do not cut down or damage trees to recover a rocket. If needed, we may ask the reservation manager for assistance.
3.7 The operation of any type of ATV/RTV is not permitted.
3.8 Bring all lost and found items to the launch control tent. Everyone likes to get their stuff back.
3.9 Prior to leaving the field, pick up all trash and take it with you. This includes not only your own trash, but anything that might have blown into your area.
4. Safety
4.1 General Safety
4.2 First and foremost, Pay Attention! Rocketry is not a passive activity. If the Launch Control Officer (LCO) announces Heads Up, there is a reason.
4.3 If the LCO announces a flight as a Heads Up Flight, you will stop whatever you are doing, get on your feet, and pay close attention to the launch until the rocket's recovery system has fully deployed, or until the rocket is on the ground.
4.4 The Range Safety Officer (RSO) is responsible for overall launch site safety. The RSO may designate additional personnel as needed.
4.5 The decisions of the RSO are final and may not be appealed on the field.
4.6 Dress appropriately for the event, as well as current and expected/forecast weather conditions. Sun protection is highly recommended all year. Bring a portable shade canopy if possible, as there is very limited shade available.
4.7 Bring plenty of food and water. We do not have a food or drink vendor on site, and there are no nearby stores.
4.8 Drive slowly - 5 mph or less - while in the parking, prep, and launch areas. Be alert for children running out from behind parked cars, and for adults walking out while looking up to follow a rocket.
4.9 Spectators are always welcome but must remain behind the flight line at all times, and out of all rocket prep and launch areas unless accompanied by a TBRA member.
4.10 If you bring children to a launch event, you must pay attention to both the rockets and your children. They do not have the attention span or experience that you have. It is your responsibility to keep them safe.
4.11 Do not attempt to catch any rocket as it lands. Even a small rocket can cause an injury.
4.12 Do not pick up or move any rocket that is not yours without the prior permission of the rocket owner.
4.13 Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the Scout Reservation.
4.14 Alcoholic beverages will not be consumed anywhere on the Scout Reservation.
4.15 Thunderstorms may appear quickly and with little advance warning, especially during the summer months. As the launch site is within a large open field, lighting is a definite hazard, and all launch operations will cease when lighting or thunder is within 10 miles. If a storm approaches the launch area, take shelter within your vehicle, and remain there until the storm has passed.
4.16 Prep and Launch Safety
4.17 Minor participants are permitted to use commercial motors only.
4.17(a) Minors under the age of fourteen (14) are limited to a combined impulse of 40 N-Sec, or a single "E" motor.
4.17(b) Minors aged fourteen (14) and fifteen (15) are limited to a combined impulse of 80 N-Sec, or a single "F" motor.
4.17(c) Minors aged sixteen (16) and seventeen (17) are limited to a combined impulse of 160 N-Sec, or a single "G" motor.
4.17(d) These requirements may be waived for minors participating in the Tripoli Mentoring Program (TMP), The American Rocketry Contest (TARC), Student Launch Initiative (SLI), or other program recognized and supported by TRA and/or NAR.
4.18 Stay clear of all launch pad areas unless the LCO has announced the "PADS ARE OPEN". If you are returning to the launch area with a recovered rocket, always assume the pads are closed, and walk well away from them.
4.19 Do not bend a launch rod to install a rocket on the pad. Either tilt the pad head over, or ask another TBRA member for assistance.
4.20 Any recovered rocket with unfired motor(s) and/or ejection charge(s) must be rendered safe prior to returning to the prep area.
4.21 TBRA has an FAA Certificate of Authorization (COA) to 8,000 feet Above Ground Level (AGL), or 8,100 feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL). Launch site elevation is approximately 30 feet above sea level.
4.21(a) The recommended ceiling is 5,000 feet AGL, due to the presence of trees and power lines. TBRA may lower the ceiling due to local weather conditions.
4.21(b) Do not attempt a flight that will reach within 1,000 feet of the FAA Authorized ceiling without prior authorization from the TBRA Prefect and the TBRA COA holder.
4.21(c) If we have overcast skies, we will refer to the cloud ceiling reported by the Brooksville Airport METARS, minus 1,000 feet.
4.21(d) Any flight expected to exceed 5,000 feet above ground level must use a dual-deploy recovery system to improve the chances that the rocket will recover on the launch site property.
4.22 If you insist on making a high altitude flight, you must understand that you may not get your rocket back. The upper level windspeeds are often 2 or 3 times the speed of ground level winds, and often blow in different directions.
4.22(a) If your rocket lands in a tree, you may need to hire a professional tree climber to retrieve it. This could cost several hundred dollars.
4.22(b) If a rocket hangs up on a power line, no attempt will be made to recover it.
4.22(c) If the rocket ends up in a swamp, there it shall remain forever. The landowner will not permit anyone to enter a swamp to retrieve a rocket.
4.22(d) If the rocket lands outside of the launch site property, notify the Prefect, LCO, or RSO. We will work with the landowner and their neighbors to get access to retrieve the rocket. However, access to neighboring properties is not guaranteed. Do not attempt to enter any neighboring property without approval from the appropriate landowner and TBRA.
4.23 The RSO may request to inspect and verify the flight safety of any rocket prior to launch. Any rocket deemed unstable or unsafe will not be launched.
4.24 A separate flight card is required for each flight. Flight cards will be complete and legible. Incomplete or illegible flight cards will be returned to the flyer, and the rocket will not be launched.
4.25 If a model rocket fails to launch due to igniter failure, the rocket will be removed form the launch pad and returned to the prep area for igniter replacement.
4.26 If a high power rocket fails to launch due to igniter failure, the igniter may be replaced at the pad.
4.27 Any person who disregards safety practices, uses unsafe or dangerous motors, or in any way jeopardizes or appears to jeopardize the safety of others will be asked to leave the launch site property. If an individual continues to, or routinely follows unsafe practices, the individual will be barred from all future TBRA launch events.
5. Launch Event Registration
5.1 In the event of an emergency situation, TBRA must be able to account for all people on the launch site property. Everyone entering the property for a TBRA launch event is required to sign in and out at the registration tent. This includes all participants, spectators, and vendors.
5.2 No fees are required or collected during registration.
5.3 Spectators
5.3(a) Spectators are not required to be members of a National Organization, nor members of the Tampa Bay Rocketry Association.
5.3(b) Each adult spectator will be required to read and sign the TBRA Release of Liability. If accompanied by a minor, the minor Release must be completed. These documents are valid for one (1) year from the date signed, and if the spectator has a valid Release on file, a new one is not required.
5.3(c) Once the spectator has completed the sign-in process, he/she will receive a yellow spectator wristband. This wristband is required to be worn at all times while on the launch site property.
5.4 Participants
5.4(a) Each adult participating in a TBRA launch event must be a member in good standing of either the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) and/or the National Association of Rocketry (NAR).
5.4(b) Current TRA and/or NAR members who are not TBRA members will be granted permission to launch as guests, within their current certification level.
5.4(c) Each adult participant must present a valid membership card from either TRA or NAR. The participant will be required to read and sign the Release of Liability, if he/she does not have a valid Release on file. At this time, the participant will receive a green participant wristband.
5.4(d) The wristband is required to be worn at all times while on the launch site property. No one will be allowed access to the launch pads without a wristband.
5.5 Minors
5.5(a) Minors are not required to be members of a national organization to participate in a TBRA launch event.
5.5(b) Minor participants must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If the minor does not have a current Release on file, the parent/guardian must complete one in order for the minor to attend the launch. At this time the minor will receive a red wristband.
5.5(c) This wristband is required to be worn at all times while on the launch site property. This wristband will allow the minor to access the Low Power launch pads only.
5.5(d) Minor participants will be allowed access to the High Power launch pads if the participating in the Tripoli Mentoring Program, Nar Junior High Power Program, NASA student Launch, or other TRA/NAR approved program. The minor must be accompanied by a certified TBRA member.
5.6 College/University Team Registration
5.6(a) Each team should designate a Team Leader to serve as the main contact with TBRA.
5.6(b) In order for TBRA to provide the proper support, the Team Leader will provide TBRA with information on the team project requirements and goals. This information will be provided to TBRA at least two (2) weeks prior to the launch date.
5.6(c) Each Team must have a designated Flyer of Record, normally an advanced flyer who serves as a mentor for the team.
5.6(d) The Flyer of Record must hold an active certification through either TRA or NAR appropriate for the size of the motor that the team presents for flight.
5.6(e) The entire Team must register upon arrival at the field. The Flyer of Record, the Team Leader, and all team members who wish to participate in launch activities at the pad will need to present a valid national membership card and register as participants. All other team members will register as spectators.
5.7 American Rocketry Challenge Team Registration
5.7(a) ARC teams wishing to attend a TBRA launch event to conduct test and/or qualification flights must submit the request at least two (2) weeks in advance of the requested date. TBRA has an agreement with a local landowner to permit ARC launches as needed.
5.7(b) Each team should designate a Team Leader to serve as the main contact with TBRA.
5.7(c) Each team must have an adult supervisor from the school or sponsoring organization.
5.7(d) The entire team must register upon arrival at the field. National membership is not required for ARC team members or adult supervisors. The Team Leader and all team members who wish to participate in launch activities at the pad must register as participants. All other team members will register as spectators.
5.7(e) If the team needs an official adult NAR Observer, the Team Leader should request one during registration. TBRA has NAR members willing to fill this position.
5.7(f) ARC team members will be allowed access to Low Power pads only.
5.8 Scouts and other Youth Groups
5.8(a) Scouts and other youth groups wishing to attend a TBRA launch event must contact TBRA at least two (2) weeks in advance of the launch date.
5.8(b) Organized youth groups may attend as participants, spectators, and/or as food and drink vendors conducted as an organized fundraising event.
5.8(c) All youth groups must have at least one adult supervisor, who shall be responsible for the conduct of each individual attending with the group, such as members, parents, etc.
5.8(d) Everyone attending with the youth group must register upon arriving at the field.
6. High Power Certifications
6.1 Certification flight requests must be submitted at least one (1) week prior to the scheduled launch event.
6.2 Certification procedures are published on the TRA and NAR websites. Certification tests are no longer available on the field.
6.3 Applicants must register upon arrival at the field. Each applicant must present a valid membership card from either TRA or NAR, along with official proof of test completion (not required for level 1).
6.4 Certification flights will be conducted between the hours of 12:00 and 2:00pm. If the flyer arrives late, or waits until the last minute, the certification flight may not take place.
6.5 All rockets presented for a certification flight will be inspected prior to launch.
7. Night Launch
7.1 During our two-day launch events, the Scout Reservation Manager may give us permission for a night launch. Night launch permission is not guaranteed and may be rescinded at any time without notice.
7.2 Pre-registration for a night launch is required, and must be submitted to the Prefect no later than two (2) weeks prior to the event.
7.3 All participants and spectators must be on the field 30 minutes prior to sundown. Absolutely no entrance to the property will be permitted after dark.
7.4 Launching will commence approximately 15 minutes after sunset, and will conclude by approximately 10:45pm. No rockets will be launched after 11:00 pm.
7.5 In order for the Launch Control Officer to ensure the range is safe, all persons entering the range, either at the launch pads or downrange must carry a light emitting source. Battery powered lights or chemical glowsticks are suitable for this purpose. Reflective vests or other outer clothing is recommended. This requirement will not be bypassed or waived.
7.6 All rockets, regardless of size, must have an active lighting source visible from at least 300 feet away. Lights must be visible during the entire flight until the rocket is safely on the ground.
7.6(a) Chemical glowsticks are not suitable for this purpose. Glowsticks do not produce enough light to track a rocket, especially if the recovery system malfunctions.
7.6(b) All separable rocket sections except the nose must comply with this requirement independent of each other. Shared power supplies or switches are not permitted. Each section must illuminate independently, so that a single lighting failure will not cause a failure of the entire lighting system.
7.6(c) At least one section lighting circuit should strobe, flash or blink.
7.6(d) All lighting systems and power supplies must be securely attached to each rocket section.
7.7 All rockets for night launch must be in-checked with the Range Safety Officer before dark. The RSO will need to see each lighting circuit illuminated independently.
7.7(a) Rockets presented for in-check after dark will be rejected, and will not be launched.
7.8 Rocket motors for night launch are restricted to "G" impulse and below. High power motors are not permitted for night launch at this time.
7.8(a) "Sparky" type motors may be permitted, subject to the Range Safety Officer review of field conditions. Do not assume that "Sparky" type motors will be permitted.
7.8(b) Clustered motor flights are permitted at this time.
7.8(c) Staged motor flights are not permitted at this time.
7.9 All night launch flights are restricted to a maximum altitude of 4,000 feet AGL.
7.10 If a night launch rocket ends up in a tree or heavy brush, there it shall remain until the next day.
8. Camping
8.1 During two-day launch events, overnight camping may be permitted at the launch site, with advance permission from the Prefect and the Scout Reservation Manager.
8.1(a) Permission to camp on the field rests with the reservation manager, and may be rescinded at any time without notice. Do not assume that camping will automatically be permitted. Requests to camp must be submitted to TBRA no later than two (2) weeks prior to the event.
8.1(b) If approved, camping will be the primitive type, as there are no utilities or facilities available.
8.1(c) The use of generators is not permitted.
8.1(d) All fires MUST be in an aboveground, self-contained receptacle specifically designed for this purpose. Ground fires are not permitted.
8.1(e) Firewood may be gathered on the property, but is limited to trees/branches that have already fallen. Do not cut any standing timber, regardless of whether it is alive or dead. It is highly recommended that campers bring their own firewood.
8.1(f) Firewood must be cut into small enough pieces that it will fit entirely the fire receptacle and will burn completely in one evening. All fires must be completely extinguished and the ashes scattered prior to leaving your site. Fires will not be left unattended, smoldering, or smoking.
8.2 All persons camping overnight must remain in the immediate launch site area. We are not permitted to explore the property, especially after dark. No one will enter into any Scout Activity, Camping, or Housing area at any time.
8.2(a) Travel into and out of the property after dark is not permitted, except in an emergency situation.
8.2(b) If someone needs to leave the field after dark, they must be escorted by a TBRA official, who will be responsible for securing any gate(s).
8.2(c) Be especially vigilant for any wildlife in the road after dark.
8.3 Fishing is not permitted in any reservation lakes, ponds, or streams.
9 Research Flights
9.1 Research flights are permitted during all scheduled TBRA launch events, under the Tripoli Safety Code.
9.2 Current Tripoli members certified as Level 2 or 3 are permitted to use research motors.
9.3 Current Tripoli members certified as Level 1, or not high power certified, will be permitted to use certified commercial motors only.
9.4 Current NAR members will be permitted to use certified commercial motors only. NAR does not permit it's members to conduct research launches.
9.5 All flights must be within the member’s current certification level, except for certification flights. Research motors are not permitted for certification flights.
TBRA
Launch Site Policies and Procedures
Version 3.0
Current as of January 2026