CAP?

I've been doing a little research off and on for the past few months,
but can't seem to find anyone who is actually involved.

So - what's the story? Is it a good organization to get involved in?

If you like to learn to march!


"Rachel" wrote in message
...
I've been doing a little research off and on for the past few months, but
can't seem to find anyone who is actually involved.

So - what's the story? Is it a good organization to get involved in?

So - what's the story? Is it a good organization to get involved in?

My 15 year old son and I have been in a CAP Composite Squadron (made up of
both senior members and cadets) for a year.

There are two reasons to get involved with CAP:

1. For yourself
2. For cadets

If you're into #1, find a Senior Squadron. These are basically flying clubs,
with more casual rules and regs than composite squadrons. There is little
emphasis on anything but SAR (Search and Rescue) and flying. You might
meet twice a month, maybe less.

If you're into #2, composite squadrons are the way to go. With the kids,
there is a greater emphasis on training, encampments, direction finding,
SAR, moral leadership, etc. It's essentially Scouting with a real purpose
beyond just eating SMOREs. You'll meet weekly.

The CAP organization is like any other bureaucracy. If you've got a good
group, it's a good organization. If you're stuck with a bunch of stuffed
shirts or disorganized people, it can suck.

The concept of the organization is a good one. It's up to you to make it
work.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

It depends on where you are and what you want out of it.

I flew search-and-rescue missions for a mountain-town CAP squadron for ten
years, and got in a lot of quality training and experience for very little
money. Most of the flying was paid for by the Air Force. I learned a ton,
and logged over 250 hours in the squadron's C-182. I joined as a 100-hour PP
and left as a pretty experienced 500-hour instrument-rated PP ASEL/ASES.
The SAR missions are tremendously rewarding: you have a sense you're giving
something very valuable back to the community. Occassionally you help to
save a life.

Not all squadrons are set up to make flying this rewarding. As one CAP vet
told me, "There are flyin' outfits and salutin' outfits." I'd try to find
out first what sort your local group is. It's a volunteer organization, and
as in any volunteer org, if the local group allows its narcissists to assume
command, the experience can . . . erode.

Also there's a ton of paperwork. As in the military, nothing counts, and
nothing happens, until the forms are filed.

I'm eternally grateful to the organization for the experiences it gave me.

Seth

I've been in CAP for about a year. If you like hanging around airplane
people its a good social outlet. Actually flying missions requires a
good commitment. In our squardron about 15% of the FAA licensed pilots
are certified as mission pilots. The reason is just the long line of
training, written tests and practical tests you go through before you
actually get to fly missions. I've heard people say they get to mission
pilot in 6 months but for most pilots it seems to be about 3 years.
Then you have currency requirements. Anyone who has been in the
military can appreciate the months of dely you run into sometimes just
waiting for approval for the training you just finished. I'm not trying
to talk anyone out of anything (obviously since I've stuck with it) but
rather to set realisitic expectations.
On the possitive side, our squardron is scheduled to get a brand new
glass cockpit 182. The FBO next door is renting the same plane for
$200/hr.

-Robert

What is the CAP "rental" rate now, anyway? When I got out of CAP in
2001, it was about $65.

Chris G.



Robert M. Gary wrote:
I've been in CAP for about a year. If you like hanging around airplane
people its a good social outlet. Actually flying missions requires a
good commitment. In our squardron about 15% of the FAA licensed pilots
are certified as mission pilots. The reason is just the long line of
training, written tests and practical tests you go through before you
actually get to fly missions. I've heard people say they get to mission
pilot in 6 months but for most pilots it seems to be about 3 years.
Then you have currency requirements. Anyone who has been in the
military can appreciate the months of dely you run into sometimes just
waiting for approval for the training you just finished. I'm not trying
to talk anyone out of anything (obviously since I've stuck with it) but
rather to set realisitic expectations.
On the possitive side, our squardron is scheduled to get a brand new
glass cockpit 182. The FBO next door is renting the same plane for
$200/hr.

-Robert

I recently heard it described as "requiring that you are a sadist for
paperwork. If you can't fill out your own 1040 each year nor enjoy doing
it, imagine making it part of your pre-flight."
Jim

"Rachel" wrote in message
...
I've been doing a little research off and on for the past few months,
but can't seem to find anyone who is actually involved.

So - what's the story? Is it a good organization to get involved in?

$35 dry. Although there is talk about waving it for many of us for the
new glass 182. CAP is requiring a good amount of flight training to
qualify to fly the glass cockpit and is considering funding the $35
part of it. It makes sense to me because this is maintenance money and
you shouldn't have much out-of-pocket maintenance expenses with a plane
under warranty.

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I've been in CAP for about a year. If you like hanging around airplane
people its a good social outlet. Actually flying missions requires a
good commitment. In our squardron about 15% of the FAA licensed pilots
are certified as mission pilots. The reason is just the long line of
training, written tests and practical tests you go through before you
actually get to fly missions. I've heard people say they get to mission
pilot in 6 months but for most pilots it seems to be about 3 years.
Then you have currency requirements. Anyone who has been in the
military can appreciate the months of dely you run into sometimes just
waiting for approval for the training you just finished. I'm not trying
to talk anyone out of anything (obviously since I've stuck with it) but
rather to set realisitic expectations.
On the possitive side, our squardron is scheduled to get a brand new
glass cockpit 182. The FBO next door is renting the same plane for
$200/hr.

-Robert


I guess the above is what concerns me. I just moved, have no life, and
am looking for something to suck up time. Sitting in meetings, though,
is not better than sitting on my couch - I actually want to do
something. Why are only 15% certified? Is that all that is needed?
Would a female, relatively low time (600-ish) pilot fit in?

Morgans wrote:
"Rachel" wrote


Would a female, relatively low time (600-ish) pilot fit in?


I would say that a woman pilot, with 600 hours, would fit in anytime, in an
aviation based group.

You should also check out the EAA chapters in your area, and possibly the
nearby surrounding towns. Some chapters are much more active, and have
vastly differing personalities.

Yeah, EAA is something I looked into in college, and it really wasn't
for me. Maybe it's the "recreational" part - I just don't quite fit
into that group.