Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 14500; Flight Crew Type 350
Situational Awareness; Distraction
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy; Human Factors
I was cruising at 1500 feet enroute to my destination. There was a high overcast ceiling with very good visibility below. My heading was approximately 180. I noted something odd ahead of my flight path. On looking closely I realized it was a smoke plume from a rocket launch. The white smoke trail went straight up and disappeared into the overcast. I turned slight west to pass by rather than over the launch site. The wind was calm; so the smoke trail stayed visible for a long time. I noted a large number of vehicles at the launch site and a small group of people near the base of the smoke trail. I saw no subsequent launch. I continued to my destination.My guess is this was a launch of an amateur rocket with a club; etc. viewing. Neither Flight Service nor I can find a NOTAM for this activity. I was very glad I wasn't over the site during the launch.
A pilot reported the need to take evasive maneuvers to avoid an amateur rocket launch.