The International Rocket Engineering Competition, a tentative contract for the United Airlines flight attendants, the proposed NASA funding cut, planes that nearly collide at LAX, and a bill to prohibit chemtrails. Also, the Spurwink Farm fly-in, the Angelo State University aviation bachelor program, an aviation mechanic website, and launching satellites from F-4 Phantoms.

Group photo of teams at the International Rocket Engineering Competition. — International Rocket Engineering Competition

Guests

Steve Taylor, President of the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA), Brahm Soltes, the ESRA volunteer who coordinates with the FAA, and Logan Herrera, the ESRA Media Director. ESRA is a non-profit organization founded in 2003 to foster and promote engineering knowledge and experience in rocketry. The organization’s primary focus is to provide opportunities for academic groups to compete in aerospace challenges.

ESRA hosts the annual International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), the largest university rocket competition in the world. Around 150 teams compete in high-altitude categories with either custom-designed or off-the-shelf propulsion using solid, liquid, or hybrid motors. The scoring system considers engineering report quality and flight performance. Categories are 10,000 ft, 30,000 ft, and 45,000 ft altitude targets. This year’s IREC competition is June 9-14, 2025, at Spaceport Midland, Texas, and the event will be live-streamed.

Video: Get Ready for Madness in Midland Texas

https://youtu.be/DpheAYmdufI?si=OSNWnVbD8HNLrlK5

FAA Part 101 governs amateur rockets, and the process for obtaining an FAA waiver starts with identifying the launch area and completing Form FAA 7711-2 – Certificate of Waiver or Authorization Application. ESRA worked with the FAA Regional Service Center and the Office of Commercial Space Transportation to determine and minimize the impact on the airspace. Affected Air Route Traffic Control Centers were identified and the waiver obtained by ESRA authorizes an airspace cylinder to 100,000 feet.

The multidisciplinary teams competing in IREC get hands-on experience and learn by doing. The Tripoli Rocket Association provides the training and certification required to launch rockets in this power class and mentors the teams. Rocket motor provider Aerotech provides on-site support, although some teams make their own propulsion system.

Experimental Sounding Rocket Association YouTube Channel

NASAspaceflight.com

Kennedy Space Center upcoming events

Aviation News

Inside United’s ‘Game-Changing’ Flight Attendant Deal: Raises, Retro Pay, and Hotel Upgrades

United Airlines and the flight attendants’ union have agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement. The deal, which requires membership approval, includes wage increases, retroactive pay in the form of a “retro bonus,” boarding pay, no new scheduling system, layover improvements, and preserved healthcare benefits. The membership votes July 7-29, 2025.

Trump’s 2026 budget would slash NASA funding by 24% and its workforce by nearly one-third

NASA budget funding would be cut from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion for fiscal year 2026, which starts Oct. 1, 2025. NASA science funding would be cut by 47% next year, to $3.9 billion, affecting 41 science projects.

United plane makes wrong turn, nearly colliding with other flight mid-air: FAA

Two planes departing from San Francisco International Airport’s parallel runways came within 1,950 feet of lateral separation, and 275 feet of vertical separation. The FAA is investigating.

Louisiana lawmakers push ‘chemtrail’ ban legislation through the House

Louisiana Bill SB46 provides that, “No person shall intentionally inject, release, apply, or disperse, by any means, a chemical, chemical compound, substance, or apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight.” Exclusions exist for fire suppression and agricultural or forestry applications under 1,000 feet. Observation of this activity would be reportable, but there is no penalty for violation.

Mentioned

The Rotary Wing Show Podcast, Max Trescott’s latest addition to his new aviation podcast network.

Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, has launched a Commercial Aviation Undergraduate Degree – a Bachelor of Commercial Aviation. Degree tracks include Flight Operations – Fixed Wing, Flight Operations – Helicopter, Aviation Administration, and Air Traffic Operations. Part 141 Flight School Skyline Aviation partners with the University.

Aviation Mechanic School lists schools in a number of states along with location, tuition, length of the program, features, and websites. There is also a Things to Consider When Choosing a School page.

Cold War-era fighter jets F-4 Phantoms could launch satellites for US firm

Video: Air Traffic Control: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

https://youtu.be/YeABJbvcJ_k?si=5Mq8Tc08g-MqkBaE

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Max Trescott.

850 Experimental Sounding Rocket Association 01:32:01 Share

Airplane Geeks Podcast

Shownotes Transcript

850 Experimental Sounding Rocket Association