888 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 101.15 

(2) More than 500 feet above the sur-

face of the earth; 

(3) From an area where the ground 

visibility is less than three miles; or 

(4) Within five miles of the boundary 

of any airport. 

(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does 

not apply to the operation of a balloon 
or kite below the top of any structure 
and within 250 feet of it, if that shield-
ed operation does not obscure any 
lighting on the structure. 

§ 101.15

Notice requirements. 

No person may operate an unshielded 

moored balloon or kite more than 150 
feet above the surface of the earth un-
less, at least 24 hours before beginning 
the operation, he gives the following 
information to the FAA ATC facility 
that is nearest to the place of intended 
operation: 

(a) The names and addresses of the 

owners and operators. 

(b) The size of the balloon or the size 

and weight of the kite. 

(c) The location of the operation. 
(d) The height above the surface of 

the earth at which the balloon or kite 
is to be operated. 

(e) The date, time, and duration of 

the operation. 

§ 101.17

Lighting and marking require-

ments. 

(a) No person may operate a moored 

balloon or kite, between sunset and 
sunrise unless the balloon or kite, and 
its mooring lines, are lighted so as to 
give a visual warning equal to that re-
quired for obstructions to air naviga-
tion in the FAA publication ‘‘Obstruc-
tion Marking and Lighting’’. 

(b) No person may operate a moored 

balloon or kite between sunrise and 
sunset unless its mooring lines have 
colored pennants or streamers attached 
at not more than 50 foot intervals be-
ginning at 150 feet above the surface of 
the earth and visible for at least one 
mile. 

(Sec. 6(c), Department of Transportation Act 
(49 U.S.C. 1655(c))) 

[Doc. No. 1580, 28 FR 6722, June 29, 1963, as 
amended by Amdt. 101–4, 39 FR 22252, June 
21, 1974] 

§ 101.19

Rapid deflation device. 

No person may operate a moored bal-

loon unless it has a device that will 
automatically and rapidly deflate the 
balloon if it escapes from its moorings. 
If the device does not function prop-
erly, the operator shall immediately 
notify the nearest ATC facility of the 
location and time of the escape and the 
estimated flight path of the balloon. 

Subpart C— Amateur Rockets 

§ 101.21

Applicability. 

(a) This subpart applies to operating 

unmanned rockets. However, a person 
operating an unmanned rocket within 
a restricted area must comply with 
§ 101.25(g)(2)) and with any additional 
limitations imposed by the using or 
controlling agency. 

(b) A person operating an unmanned 

rocket other than an amateur rocket 
as defined in § 1.1 of this chapter must 
comply with 14 CFR Chapter III. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2007–27390, 73 FR 73781, Dec. 4, 
2008, as amended by Docket No. FAA–2022– 
1355, Amdt. No. 101–11, 87 FR 75846, Dec. 9, 
2022] 

§ 101.22

Definitions. 

The following definitions apply to 

this subpart: 

(a) 

Class 1—Model Rocket means an 

amateur rocket that: 

(1) Uses no more than 125 grams (4.4 

ounces) of propellant; 

(2) Uses a slow-burning propellant; 
(3) Is made of paper, wood, or break-

able plastic; 

(4) Contains no substantial metal 

parts; and 

(5) Weighs no more than 1,500 grams 

(53 ounces), including the propellant. 

(b) 

Class 2—High-Power Rocket means 

an amateur rocket other than a model 
rocket that is propelled by a motor or 
motors having a combined total im-
pulse of 40,960 Newton-seconds (9,208 
pound-seconds) or less. 

(c) 

Class 3—Advanced High-Power 

Rocket  means an amateur rocket other 
than a model rocket or high-power 
rocket. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2007–27390, 73 FR 73781, Dec. 4, 
2008] 

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