Article: 8588 of rec.aviation.misc Path: newshost.ncd.com!ncd.com!decwrl!ames!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!noc.near.net!genrad.com!genrad.com!not-for-mail From: dls@genrad.com (Diana L. Carlson) Newsgroups: rec.aviation.misc Subject: CAP is a WONDERFUL volunteer organization Date: 18 Feb 1994 07:30:41 -0500 Organization: GenRad, Inc. Lines: 104 Message-ID: <2k2cdhINNfb3@sweetpea.genrad.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: sweetpea.genrad.com Keywords: CAP I was very disturbed about two recent posts that I saw concerning Civil Air Patrol. Rather than to allow these two posts to "represent" what CAP is, I will post one myself, which I feel is more representative. It's actually written by a different CAP member, but I can't say it better than he. Please make your own judgement on what CAP is, don't rely on the words of just a few who may have had bad experiences. Oh, and I'm NOT male and NOT over 50, as one of the posts claims. Diana From CAP-Talk-Owner@GreatCircle.COM Tue Nov 2 12:17:36 1993 Date: Tue, 2 Nov 93 09:07:34 -0700 From: Jer/ Eberhard To: CAP-Talk-Owner@GreatCircle.COM, cap-talk@ca0408.cap.gov Subject: Re: newbie Glad you asked about Civil Air Patrol. Yes, I have been involved with CAP since 1978. I am a former squadron commander for the local Thompson Valley Composite Squadron in Loveland, CO. Currently, I am a mission check pilot. As you probably know by now, the US Coast Guard is charged with water search and rescue and the US Air Force is charged with inland search and rescue. The Air Force has seen fit to recruit volunteers to do the inland search and rescue, because we are far cheaper to support in the field, and provide our own training. This is Civil Air Patrol. Civil Air Patrol is an Auxiliary of the US Air Force. We are a civilian, volunteer organization, but we are required to a uniform (similar to Air Force) during the performance of our duties. We have three facets to our charter. 1 - Emergency Services (find lost aircraft, people, hunters, transport blood, et.al.), 2 - Aerospace Education (to the public and ourselves) and 3 - Cadet Program (for cadets 14 - 21). The Air Force supplies aircraft and maintenance, the volunteers supply search and rescue skills, bed and board. Anything you spend toward CAP is tax deductable in the USA. There is no free lunch, but it is not uncommon for a current, qualified, Mission Pilot to get ~100 hours of SAR flying a year, if (s)he is well trained, motivated and available to participate in prosecuting the missions immediately, when they open. You need not be a pilot, or even want to fly, to join. Many people are needed in communications (radio and telephone), mission headquarters staff and squadron staff. There is some training you must take before CAP turns you loose with an aircraft, (in Colorado C-182 and T-41(like a Cessna Hawk XP)). CAP instructor pilots donate their time, but you must pay for the aircraft and fuel. All pilots must have another mission related skill besides Pilot-in-Command. Many choose from Communicator, Scanner and Observer ratings, since if you can't be PIC, you probably want to fly and use the radios anyway. After Mission Pilot training, CAP requires standard FAA currency in the aircraft, a bi-annual Mission Pilot checkride, an annual checkride in the aircraft you are qualified in and a minimum 200 hours PIC. You have to pay for this also, but its tax deductable! Don't get discouraged! There is quite a bit of training for you to take before you can be a Mission Pilot, now is the time to start, so that when you have 200 hours you are ready to go for MP. The scanner rating is achieved on the ground with a Level 1 Clinic, reading and workbook from the US Air Force ECI (Air University) and a short test. CAP presently uses only military support for helicopters. The national governing board does not allow helicopters, ultra-lights or parachuting in CAP. This may change... probably not. CAP membership costs about $45.00 a year. This gets us under the federal workman's compensation, insurance and so forth. Time is volunteer. You may be as active or inactive as you wish. There are certain minimum requirements to fill certain roles, but if a mission opens, and you can't go, there are no repercussions. Like I said, it is a volunteer organization. Thompson Valley Composite Squadron meets the first Thursday and the third Monday of each month at 7:30pm at HealthWorks (near FFM). To participate in CAP activities, you must attend at least one safety meeting a month, which we do at each of our squadron meetings. You are invited to our next meeting. Colorado Wing, CAP no longer does primary flight training, except for the first-solo encampments with cadets 16-18 years old. To contact your local CAP, you should ask around the airport, and especially around the tower or FSS. If you can't find a contact that way, get back to me and I will find you a contact. We like new members! I will help! Please feel free to call me to discuss flying or CAP, Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, jer@fc.hp.com, Jer_Eberhard@fc.hp.com Hewlett-Packard SWT, 3404 East Harmony Road MS-298, Ft Collins, CO 80525-9599 Phone 303 229-2861, FAX 303 229-3598, 6UR6, Incoming 40 44.1N x 105 33.0W N0FZD, Civil Air Patrol, PikesPeak 218, MSN CheckPilot, CFII Airplane & Glider -- ->Diana L. Carlson dls@genrad.com Ham: KC1SP (Sweet Pea) <- ->I'D RATHER BE FLYING! P-ASEL, INST CAP: CPT, NHWG <- ->GenRad, 300 Baker Ave MS/1, Concord, MA 01742 (508)369-4400 x2459 <-