For many years rocketeers in the US have been challenging the BATFE decision to class AP motors as an explosive. This regulation over the years has made it difficult for many flyers in the US to participate due to the costs of an LEUP (equivalent to our Explosives License).

In Dec 2007 UK rocketeers benefited from years of discussions between UKRA and our UK Health and Safety government department to bring in exemptions for rocketeers to purchase up to a small K motor without an Explosives License. This has brought about a large increase in the number of rocketeers flying mid power rockets.

Finally after years of legal battles, US flyers won their victory and the BATFE has been ordered by the US courts to declassify APCP as an explosive. We hope that this may in turn help in the UK over the comings year to declassify some of the UN numbers such as UN0349, UN0351 and UN0186 which are used for AP rocket motors only. Maybe AP motors will be seen as what they are, a flammable solid, not an explosive one. AP motors only become explosive when contained in a sealed vessel, just like Calor Gas. Why isnt Calor Gas classed as an explosive ?

So what does it mean for UK rocketry, some may be thinking, it's in the US so why does it bother us. Well it should be of interest to every flyer in the UK. All except a few parts, the complete hobby is imported from the US. Without the US rocket scene, the hobby wouldnt exist here.

The removal of the requirement for LEUP and expensive storage facilities should hopefully increase the number of flyers in the US. This in turn will help Rocket and Motor manufacturers with sales and boost the whole hobby economy. The stronger and larger the market in the US is, the better for us in the UK, greater stock quantities, shorter despatch times, savings through economies of scale and much more. It can only be good for the UK Rocket scene, congratulations to the US legal team and everyone involved.


About Rocket Store

Rocket Store is a leading UK and European supplier of rocketry related items to the hobby, educational, amateur and professional markets. Rocket Store now supply most of the worlds main rocketry manufacturers to it's customer base.

Rocket Store also attend rocket clubs and launches around the UK helping to promote and raise the profile of rocketry within the UK.