(a) General. A launch operator must perform safety critical preflight operations that protect the public from the adverse effects of hazards associated with launch processing and flight of a launch vehicle. The launch operator must identify all safety critical preflight operations in the launch schedule required by §417.17(b)(1). Safety critical preflight operations must include those defined in this section.

(b) Countdown. A launch operator must implement its countdown plan, of §417.111(l), for each launch. A launch operator must disseminate a countdown plan to all personnel responsible for the countdown and flight of a launch vehicle, and each person must follow that plan.

(c) Collision avoidance. A launch operator must coordinate with United States Strategic Command to obtain a collision avoidance analysis, also referred to as a conjunction on launch assessment, as required by §417.231. A launch operator must implement flight commit criteria as required by §417.113(c) to ensure that each launch meets all the criteria of §417.107(e).

(d) Meteorological data. A launch operator must conduct operations and coordinate with weather organizations, as needed, to obtain accurate meteorological data to support the flight safety analysis required by subpart C of this part and to ensure compliance with the flight commit criteria required by §417.113.

(e) Local notification. A launch operator must implement its local agreements and public coordination plan of §417.111(i).

(f) Hazard area surveillance. A launch operator must implement its hazard area surveillance and clearance plan, of §417.111(j), to meet the public safety criteria of §417.107(b) for each launch.

(g) Flight safety system preflight tests. A launch operator must conduct preflight tests of any flight safety system as required by section E417.41 of appendix E of this part.

(h) Launch vehicle tracking data verification. For each launch, a launch operator must implement written procedures for verifying the accuracy of any launch vehicle tracking data provided. For a launch vehicle flown with a flight safety system, any source of tracking data must satisfy the requirements of §417.307(b).

(i) Unguided suborbital rocket preflight operations. For the launch of an unguided suborbital rocket, in addition to meeting the other requirements of this section, a launch operator must perform the preflight wind weighting and other preflight safety operations required by §§417.125, 417.233, and appendix C of this part.

[Docket No. FAA-2000-7953, 71 FR 50537, Aug. 25, 2006, as amended by Amdt. No. 417-5, 81 FR 59439, Aug. 30, 2016]