ESH-Environment Safety & Health

ESH100.2.IS.16

Manage Hazards for Flight Vehicle Operations

COFFING, STEPHEN A.

Active

• Albert O. Bendure (Al)

 

This corporate procedure applies to all Members of the Workforce whose activities include flight vehicle operations and rocket motor systems tests at Sandia operated ranges and facilities (TTR, KTF, and Technical Area III), as well as Sandia flight systems flown on non-Sandia test ranges (e.g., White Sands Missile Range, and Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation-Kodiak Launch Complex). This procedure does not apply to Members of the Workforce who generate debris during training operations or from orbiting spacecraft other than targets.

Exceptions to, or deviations from this procedure must be approved through the Executive Policy Sponsor or Policy Area Manager, if delegated. Click here to view Contacts for Corporate Policies, Processes, and Procedures. See CG100.1.7, Request an Exception to a Policy, Process, or Procedure, for directions on how to obtain an exception to this procedure.

Granting or permitting exceptions or violations of policy, process, or procedure without authority, regardless of position or title, may be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Violating a policy, process, or procedure may be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: A printed copy of this document may not be the document currently in effect. The official version is located on the Sandia National Laboratories Sandia Restricted Network (SRN).

This procedure describes the requirements for safely operating flight vehicles and rocket motor systems. The criteria within this procedure apply to:

• Aeronautical system testing.
• Air-to-air missiles.
• Air-to-surface missiles.
• Anti-satellite missiles.
• Ballistic missiles.
• Cruise missiles.
• Debris generated by endoatmospheric and exoatmospheric missile intercepts.
• Rocket systems.
• Space launch vehicles.
• Surface-to-air missiles.

Quantifying Hazards

Activity	Responsible Individual	Required Action
Quantify Hazards	Managers	Ensure that a flight safety analysis is performed to quantify hazards to the public, participating test personnel, and facilities. Note: A flight safety analysis may include: An impact dispersion study for unguided systems such as sounding rockets (e.g., Strypi rocket system). Detailed probabilistic risk assessment studies for guided systems (e.g., the Sandia Strategic Target System [STARS]).

Assessing Hazards and Risks

Activity	Responsible Individual	Required Action
Assess Hazards and Risks	Managers	Ensure that: All flight operations that create flying debris, intended or non-intended, follow a hazard assessment and risk management approach as specified in the U.S. Army Range Commanders Council, Common Risk Criteria Standards for National Test Ranges (Standard 321-07 and supplement), and illustrated in following Table 1, Common Risk Criteria for National Test Ranges. The probability of rendering inoperative all or a major part of a permanent facility is less than 1x10-3 per facility per test operation.

Table 1. Common Risk Criteria for National Test Ranges

Summary of Common Criteria
Maximum Acceptable Probability	Undesired Event	Duration
1E-6	Individual Fatality (General Public)	One Year
1E-7	Individual Fatality (General Public)	One Mission
3E-5	Total Fatalities (General Public)	One Mission
1E-3*	Total Fatalities (General Public)	One Year
3E-5	Individual Fatality (Mission Essential)	One Year
3E-6	Individual Fatality (Mission Essential)	One Mission
1E-2*	Total Fatalities (Mission Essential)	One Year
3E-4*	Total Fatalities (Mission Essential)	One Mission
1E-7	Non-Mission Aircraft	One Mission
1E-6	Mission Essential Aircraft	One Mission
1E-6	Non-Mission Ships	One Mission
1E-5	Mission Essential Ships	One Mission
1E-7	Manned/Mannable Spacecraft	One Revolution
*Advisory requirements

Launching Rocket and Flight Systems

Activity	Responsible Individual	Required Action
Prepare for Launching Rocket and Flight Systems	Managers	Ensure that the following actions occur prior to launching rockets or flight systems from SNL ranges (including both Sandia and non-Sandia rocket systems), from SNL locations, or prior to launching any Sandia rocket or flight system from a non-SNL range: The flight dynamics technology group manager reviews the hazard analysis. The flight dynamics technology group manager prepares a cover memo or letter to the Sandia manager and range commander as outlined in Table 2, Communication Requirements. A range safety approval (RSA) signed by the range commander is in place. Note: While the RCC/RSG risk criteria is considered a recommended practice for all member ranges, the range commander of each national test range can issue a waiver to the established criteria. For Sandia, the equivalent range commander is the Sandia range manager, center director, or division vice president, depending on the hazard level.
Prepare for Launching Other Hazardous Flight Operations	Managers	Managers must ensure that a similar process is applied to other hazardous flight operations that do not involve rockets, such as gliding bombs.

Table 2. Communication Requirements

Communication To	Content
Appropriate Sandia Manager	State all quantitative limits with respect to casualty expectation to the public and participating test personnel, as well as damage to permanent facilities have been met.
Range Commander	The range commander of the appropriate national test range stating that the proposed rocket operation meets the RCC/RSG Standard 321-07, Common Risk Criteria for National Test Ranges, Subtitle: Inert Debris, and requesting formal range safety approval from the host range. Note: Include recommendations, qualifications, or other issues as appropriate.

Managers must ensure that the records specified below are managed in accordance with the Sandia Records Retention and Disposition Schedule.  The applicable Sandia record series number is in parentheses. 

• Flight Safety Analysis (SA-140-211-000). 
• Range Safety Approval (SA-140-211-000). 
• Communications required in Table 2 (SA-140-211-000).

• 10 CFR 851, Worker Safety and Health Program.
• U.S. Army Range Commanders Council, Common Risk Criteria Standards for National Test Ranges (Standard 321-07 and supplement), June 2007.
• Range Commander’s Council, CSTE-DTC-WS-RCC, Organization and Policy Document, April 2000.

 

Process

• ESH100.2, Analyze and Control Hazards.

Procedures

• ESH100.2.EXP.1, Manage Explosives Safety.
• ESH100.2.IH.8, Evaluate and Control Noise Hazards.
• ESH100.2.PS.1, Control Pressure Safety Hazards.

 

Date	Summary
12/07/2010	Administrative Modified Updated SAPLE links to subject matter experts for system consistency. Deleted Removed links from "Standard 321-07" and "supplement." (Requirements & Instructions, Assessing Hazards and Risks)