[wbill]

"Building rockets is a legitimate hobby, but hobbyists have to let the FAA know what they're doing," Herwig said.

Self-important bureaucrat.

That having been said, any amateur model rocketer that indulges in their hobby near an airport, with planes flying overhead, is an idiot. MEthinks that there's more to this than meets the eye.

[SampleMan]

If you are going to be shooting rockets that go into controlled airspace, you’ve got to make a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen).

Most hobbiest rockets shouldn’t be a factor to begin with, as they don’t go that high, but you can get a license to launch the bigger stuff.

[driftdiver]

‘That having been said, any amateur model rocketer that indulges in their hobby near an airport, with planes flying overhead, is an idiot. MEthinks that there’s more to this than meets the eye. “

He wasn’t ‘near’ an airport, at least if you consider 8 miles sufficient distance. Seems the plane was flying really low though. Most commercial jets are over 5000 feet within a couple miles let alone 8 miles.

I believe you are supposed to notify the FAA if your rocket goes over 3000 feet or so. Regardless of your distance from the airport.

[Reeses]

It's unlikely it was a toy rocket because they don't go up that high, maybe 1,000 feet. The jet was likely way too high to even notice a toy rocket in the air. A hobbyist with a more powerful rocket wouldn't likely be so irresponsible to launch it in a populated area. This was no minor incident.