Junior HPR Level 1 Participation Program | National Association of Rocketry

Note: The NAR Board of Trustees recently passed a change to our Junior HPR L1 Participation Program (JrHPP) that adds a written exam requirement. This change went into effect on January 1, 2020. All current Junior L1 certified members that certified on or before December 31, 2019, will not be required to take the written exam. Any certification paperwork now submitted without the accompanying completed exam documentation will be returned as incomplete.

This change was made to help provide reciprocal access to our Junior L1 flyers at Tripoli-sponsored launches (where our Junior L1 certified members were previously not able to be present at HPR pads). The change was the result of several discussions between the Tripoli President, Steve Shannon, and your NAR President, John Hochheimer that were followed up by discussions among the NAR Board and several key committees. Both organizations sought cooperation and reciprocity in HPR flying where it can help to provide access to flying for our members, in this case Jr L1 flyers.

The NAR Board held several discussions on the topic and after thoughtful input from the HPR Services, L3CC, and Safety Committees as well as Board liaisons, consensus was reached for the structure of revisions to our JrHPP process to include a written exam. The specifics of the exam and procedures include:

The exam is twenty five (25) questions
The exam consists of a master question bank available (with answers) for study
The exam will be distributed to NAR Sections and Certification Team members meeting the minimum requirements
The exam will be administered by Section Officers and JrHPP Certification Team members who are L1 or higher
The exam will be taken and passed prior to the certification flight
The exam may be re-taken immediately in case of a failure but may only be taken twice in a seven-day period
The exam will comply with any other details and processes as with the L2 exam

The NAR was created in 1957 as an advocate of the model rocketry hobby. Over the past four decades the hobby has grown to encompass rocket motor types and performance unavailable to the modeler at the NAR’s inception. In response to this growth the NAR offers a certification process which permits individuals to purchase and use rocket motors whose physical constraints and performance exceed traditional model rocket boundaries. Rocket motors which exceed model rocketry motor definitions and the models that use these motors are collectively referred to as high power rocketry.

In order to expand the opportunities available to Junior and Leader members of NAR, the following Jr. HPR Participation Program is offered to Junior/Leader members ages 14 through 17 so that they may fly H and I class motors. The Junior Level 1 High Power Participation Program (JrHPP) will follow the same basic procedure used for the HPR certification for Senior NAR members. However due to legal restrictions pertaining to the purchase and possession of high power rocket motors, ejection charges and related items, there are additional requirements, as outlined in this procedure.

The Junior Level 1 HPR Participation Program is intended to provide a measure of the modeler’s competence to avoid gross violations of good modeling practice and safe model operation. The program is not foolproof. A single demonstration of a modeler’s skills does not guarantee consistent safe performance. The participation program does not replace competent range personnel (note that high power range safety officers will require High Power certification of the sponsor per NFPA 1127) to provide assurance of safe models and operating practices.

Questions about any of the below content should be directed to the HPR Services Chairman.

Junior High Power Level 1 Participation certification is required if they wish to:
1. Launch models containing multiple motors with a total installed impulse of 320.01 Newton-seconds to 640 Newton-seconds, or
2. Launch models containing a single motor with a total installed impulse of 160.01 Newton-seconds to 640 Newton-seconds, or
3. Launch rockets that weigh more than 53 ounces (1500 grams), or
4. Launch models powered by rocket motors not classified as model rocket motors per NFPA 1122, e.g.:
  1. Average thrust in excess of 80.0 Newtons
  2. Containing in excess of 125 grams of propellant and are limited to only H and I motors
Minimum Requirements
1. The JrHPP Candidate must fall in the age range of 14 through 17 years old.
2. The individual must be a Junior/Leader member in good standing of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) at the time of certification. Evidence of NAR membership will be requested prior to the certification attempt. Acceptable evidence of membership includes the NAR membership card, a canceled check indicating payment of membership fees, or participation in a NAR event where membership status is verified and indicated on the event materials.
3. The JrHPP Candidate must take and pass the NAR Junior HPR Level 1 Participation Program Written Exam within one (1) year prior to the certification flight attempt. Proof of a successful exam passing will be the graded and signed exam answer sheet.
4. All HPR flights performed by the JrHPP Candidate must be directly supervised by an adult who is HPR certified Level 1 or greater, and can legally purchase and possess the motor or reload kit used for the flight.
5. Motors used for JrHPP certification attempts must be currently certified by the NAR, or by another organization (e.g., Tripoli) with a recognized certification program. Manufacturer’s designations, not certification test data, will be used to identify suitability for the certification level being attempted (e.g., an H128 is an H, a G75 is a G). NOTE: Models propelled by Hybrid motors require deployment charges external of the motor and these charges are currently regulated. For this reason, Hybrids cannot be used for JrHPP certification flights.
Certification Teams (required for both the written exam and flight)
1. The JrHPP Candidate must follow similar guidelines as a senior member, in that their flight is qualified by a NAR Certification Team.
2. Except as noted below, the Certification Team will consist of two individuals who are a minimum of 18 years old and are members in good standing of the NAR. The Certification Team members must be unrelated to the applicant. Members of Tripoli, unless they are also members of the NAR, cannot participate on a Certification Team.
3. At least one of the Certification Team members must already be certified Level 1 to qualify a JrHPP Candidates certification attempt.
  1. The JrHPP Written Exam must be administered by a Senior NAR Member in good standing who is at least Level 1 HPR Certified.
4. A JrHPP Candidates certification attempt may be witnessed by a single NAR Level 2 certified individual provided they meet the other requirement stated in Section 3.2 above; the two certified individuals requirement is waived in this case.
5. A JrHPP Candidates certification attempt must be witnessed in person by the Certification Team. Video recordings of a certification flight are not acceptable.
6. Certification teams please consider discussing the following data for the proposed flight with the candidate – CP/CG locations, expected maximum speed & altitude, minimum launcher exit velocity, and touchdown velocity (appropriate parachute size based on rocket weight; recommended no more than 20 feet/sec).
7. Simulations for design, flight and recovery can be accomplished with commercially-available or freeware programs and/or manual calculations.
Junior HPR Participation Certification Process and Documentation
1. The JrHPP Candidate must also complete their portion of the NAR Junior High Power Participation Application prior to taking the written exam or making their certification flight attempt.
2. JrHPP Written Exam
  1. The JrHPP Candidate is required to take and pass the Junior HPR Level 1 Participation Program Written Exam prior to making a certification flight attempt.
  2. The exam will be twenty five (25) questions in multiple choice and true/false format.
  3. The exam questions will come from a 50 question pool found in the JrHPP Written Exam Study Guide.
    1. JrHPP Online Practice Exams:
  4. The passing grade is 88%; this means you must have at least 22 or more correct answers out of the 25 questions in the exam.
  5. In the case of a failure, the test may be re-taken immediately but may only be taken twice in a seven-day period.
  6. Once passed, the Certification Team member who administered the written exam must fill out their portion of the Exam Answer Sheet (Corrected By, NAR #, HPR Cert. Level, Signature, and # Correct). The JrHPP Candidate will be responsible for ensuring that the Exam Answer Sheet is signed by the test administrator. Failure to have a signed answer sheet will require the JrHPP Candidate to retake the exam before making the certification flight attempt.
  7. The Certification Team member who administered the written exam will also fill in the “Level 1 Written Exam passed” date in the Certification Checklist section of the JrHPP Application.
  8. The signed, completed Exam Answer Sheet should be attached to the back of the JrHPP Application either by staple or paperclip. Loss of signed answer sheet will require the JrHPP Candidate to retake the exam before making the certification flight attempt.
3. JrHPP Certification Flight
  1. The JrHPP Candidate must build the rocket that they wish to use for their certification attempt. The model may be either scratch built or a kit and the rocket must be constructed in such a manner that it will perform safely under the additional stress of an HPR motor. Youth teams wanting to certify cannot use the same rocket, but rather are required to each build their own model. In addition, the member must use an active recovery system for their JrHPP certification attempt, which usually includes parachute recovery; details of these recovery methods are described in the Definition of Active Recovery.
  2. A JrHPP Candidates certification attempt may be accomplished at any launch where sufficient individuals meeting the requirements of Section 3.2 through 3.4 above are available.
  3. FAA regulations requiring a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (waiver) must be complied with for high power models greater than 3.3 pounds (1500 grams) launch weight and/or 4.4 ounces (125 grams) of propellant) at the time of launch. All other conditions and restrictions imposed by the FAA must be satisfied and followed.
  4. The JrHPP Candidate must demonstrate the ability to build and fly a rocket containing at least one H or I impulse class motor. Cluster or staged models used for certification may not contain over 640.00 Newton seconds total impulse. In the case of a cluster or staged model, at least one of the individual motors must be an H or I impulse motor. Combinations of D, E, F or G motors that meet the impulse requirements do not qualify as the model does not contain at least one H or I impulse motor. Single use or reloadable motors are permitted. Due to regulations, the JrHPP Candidate MUST NOT HANDLE THE MOTOR. The motor must be handled by the certified adult sponsor at all times. However, it is encouraged that the JrHPP Candidate instruct their certified Adult sponsor in the assembly of a reloadable motor, if one is used for the certification flight. The JrHPP Candidate can install the motor retention system once the adult sponsor has placed the motor inside the motor mount of the rocket.
  5. The certified adult sponsoring the flight must be willing to be listed as the flier of record for the flight and understand that they are assuming full responsibility and liability for the flight as if it were their own. The JrHPP Candidate can be listed and announced as the owner of the rocket.
  6. The certified adult sponsor must be present when the JrHPP Candidate delivers the rocket to the RSO for pre-flight inspection and placement on the launch pad. The model will be subjected to a safety inspection prior to flight. The safety inspection form is on the back of the NAR Junior High Power Particiation Application. During the safety inspection, the JrHPP Candidate will be expected to provide oral answers to technical questions related to the safety and construction of his model. The questions may include (but not limited to) identification of the model’s center of gravity and center of pressure, methods used to determine model stability, and interpretation of the rocket motors’ designation. The Certification Team will initial (or check) the blocks indicating that model safety, motor certification, and the existence of an FAA waiver (if required) were verified prior to flight.
  7. The JrHPP Candidate will fly their model. The flight must be witnessed by the Certification Team members and adult sponsor. Stability, deployment of the recovery system, and safe recovery should be considered when evaluating safety of the flight. Models experiencing a catastrophic failure of the airframe, rocket motor, and/or recovery system (e.g., shock cord separation) will not be considered as having a safe flight.
  8. The model must be returned to the Certification Team after the flight and be inspected to verify motor retention and for evidence of flight-induced damage. The Certification Team will initial the blocks indicating that a safe flight was made and that the post-flight inspection was satisfactory. In general, the guideline for acceptable flight damage is that the model could be flown again without repair. It is left to the judgement of the Certification Team to differentiate between flight damage and “normal” maintenance to assure reliability (e.g., shock cord replacement to prevent future flight problems). “Zippering” of the body tube is another area of flight damage left to the Certification Teams judgement for acceptability. Note: Falsification of data or statements by the JrHPP Candidate or adult sponsor will result in revocation of the JrHPP Candidates certification. Falsification of data or statements by the Certification Team, e.g., failure to ensure that a FAA waiver is in place, can result in revocation of the team members’ NAR memberships.
  9. The Certification Team will sign the JrHPP Application in the appropriate fields to indicate that the certification flight was successfully completed. Both the JrHPP Application and the Participation Verification Card at the bottom must be signed. As with the written exam portion, the JrHPP Candidate will be responsible for ensuring that the application is signed. Failure to have a signed application may require the JrHPP Candidate to remake the certification flight attempt. The completed and signed JrHPP Application with the Participation Verification Card can be returned to the JrHPP Member after the flight.
  10. The JrHPP Member may cut off the Participation Verification Card along the dotted lines and then send the remaining completed and signed JrHPP Application as well as the graded and signed Exam Answer Sheet to NAR Headquarters. No fees are required. The application and answer sheet may also be returned by the Certification Team, the sponsoring adult, or the event sponsors to allow updating the NAR database. A new NAR membership card will be issued showing Jr HPR Level 1 Participation upon receipt and processing of the completed application.
  11. The Participation Verification Card is valid for 60 days after the certification date or until the JrHPP Members membership expiration, whichever comes first. The card is recognized as proof of the JrHPP Members High Power participation level. The Participation Verification Card should be destroyed upon receipt of the new NAR membership card which shows the Junior HPR Participation level.
  12. When the JrHPP Member turns 18 years of age, the adult supervision requirements are lifted and the HPR Participation level converts to that of a NAR Senior member with a HPR Level 1 Certification. At that time the member also becomes eligible to attempt their NAR L2 HPR certification.
Level 1 Junior High Power Participation (160.01 to 640.00 Newton-seconds impulse)
1. A JrHPP Member may fly single or multiple motor rocket flights with motors having a maximum total impulse of 640.00 Newton seconds.
2. The JrHPP Members certification flight and all future flights must be single deployment only. This is due to regulatory requirements of ejection charges used in dual deployment systems. On board electronic devices are permitted as long as they are not used for deployment via pyrotechnic ejection charges (i.e., non-pyrotechnic chute releases are allowed).
3. As models with hybrid motors require regulated ejection methods, they are not permitted to be used by the JrHPP Member at this time.
4. The JrHPP Member must continue to have a certified adult sponsor for all subsequent flights and the sponsor is required to follow the same rules listed for certification flight (i.e., the sponsor must continue to handle the motor). This requirement will expire once the JrHPP Member reaches the legal age of 18, as long as provisions are met regarding other applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Administrative Items
1. JrHPP Written Exam packets may be requested by Senior NAR Members in good standing who are at least Level 1 HPR Certified. Requests for single hard copies may be sent to NAR Headquarters. Sections or those Certification Teams requiring multiple copies for ongoing testing or the testing of large groups may request soft copies (electronic versions) of the exam packets by sending and email to either the Section Activities Chairman or the HPR Services Chairman.
2. NAR JrHPP Members may fly at Tripoli launches as long as the Prefect and RSO/LCO team agree to allow the JrHPP sponsor’s acceptance of liability.
3. Lapses in the NAR membership over one year will void all JrHPP Member certifications. The Junior/Leader member will have to repeat the JrHPP certification process as described above (both the written exam and certification flight) to regain their JrHPP Member status.

Page Revision: January 10, 2020

Junior HPR Level 1 Participation Program
Formal Participation Procedure

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High Power Rocket Certification