Civil Air Patrol
 

I was curious into the CAP. I have a non aviation career and am not really a 'career changer' However, I do have a passion for aviaiton and pursuing it part-time till retirment from my current career allows me to pusue it full time. Currently a low-time commercial pilot working on CFI's.

I have no military background, and was curious what I might have to offer the CAP? as well as the kind and frequency of CAP flights?

Thanks

My understanding of CAP is that it is kind of like flying boy scouts. Adult participants do a lot of "scout leader" type work and may not fly as often as they would like. Also I think you start flying as an observer vice being the PIC (not loggable for FAA purposes).

Sounds like fun, if you like that kind of thing, but it's probably not going to be a huge time-building deal unless you start as a teenager and stick with it.

your best bet would be to join just a senior squadron- no cadets. And try to get into the flying program. Obviously you will want to join to be part of CAP and be an active member, not just to fly- if so, is not going to work for you.

where are you located?

Currently located in the Mid-Michigan area

haha....exacto

I hate to say this, but the SAR should be left to full time, paid professionals.

I've been involved with CAP, got up to Mission Pilot, so I do know from first hand experience that if my loved ones were in trouble, I want the sheriffs dept or the highway patrol out looking. Talk about a cluster.

The development of the kids (cadets) is neat and all, but there are other community orgs that do so as well.

Other than that- it's a government subsidized flying club undercutting the local FBOs. Your tax dollars at work. :rolleyes:

I don't know how this would help, but I did see CAP planes flying over some highways in Southern CA. I'm not positive, but I think they follow a high speed vehicle and call a highway patrol on it.

CAP also does counter-drug ops, probably thats what it was.

Only two guys in my CAP squadron are former military. Does not matter what your profession is, I am sure you have something to offer. We have a lawyer and a surgeon in our unit. Most of our flying is doing the orientation rides for the cadet squadrons, and the counter-drug in the spring and summer,

All I can say is that you must've been with some pretty crappy units. I worked as a Liaison Officer in GA for almost 13 years, and we had some incredible cadets, a senior member with over 100 ELT finds, and quite a few military academy selections. If you want to talk about a gov't subsidized flying club, look at US Customs. (Yes, I worked for them for three years and THAT was a flying club, believe me.) The CAP members I know dedicated a LOT of their time, money, and efforts to help the communities where we worked. I don't know how you can say they are "undercutting" FBO's when renting a plane is so expensive right now, that even I can't afford it..... and I make fairly good money. Getting a cadet interested in the flying/military portions was very rewarding to many of us. Sorry you found it so "undercutting".