AlmostThere

ok sooo.....i think some of us here are a little more knowledgeable on this subject than others hint otto hint

airlnwnaB

Thanks for all the helpful info ottopilot! I guess may next step is to go in and talk to somebody at a local wing to get a better feel for things.

lakehouse

If you do it, dont go following around planes in the sky looking for an ELT going off, when its on the ground, where a plane crashed 2 days earlier. Read the news or something before you go looking for an ELT, theres a good shot theres a plane crash right before.

mshunter

I haven't been personally involved with CAP, but I have had many students who have. I have never heard a single one of them say anything that makes me want to join. From what I gather, it's mostly people who could never cut it in the military, so this is as close as they can get to that type of structure. But, a few of our local squadrans are run too much like a boot camp. And I'm sorry, but I DON'T need to pay a yearly butt chewing membership fee. IIRC, the guy I do regular inst. currency flights with spends over $1k a year to fly with them in a 206. He also took some checkride with them that allowed him to fly counter drug missions (form 5?), and the "checkride" wasn't cheap. All that after being a member for the last 10 years.

It's not all the fluff some make it out to be is all I'm saying. I have been to meetings of more than one squadran, and it's just not for me. YMMV

Ottopilot

Half of our senior members are still in the military (all branches). I don't know what you are talking about when you say they couldn't cut it in the military? They were discharged from the military and joined CAP? CAP is not the military. There is no "butt chewing" of anyone, as it is strickly forbidden. Some squadrons are more "military" than others. Some like it and some don't. I don't. I'm not in the military. Every squadron is different, some are good and some are not. I can name some AF Generals and Colonels that were former CAP. I can also list some astronauts and Thunderbird pilots. 10% of the AF Academy are former CAP members. The organization is what YOU make of it. Many kids learn to fly in the CAP- FREE. 25% of the kids in my squadron have soloed planes and/or gliders.

You only need 2 years as a member to do counter drug missions. Zero years to do search and rescue flying. Every CAP pilot takes an annual Form 5 checkride (BFR). It's free for "mission" qualified pilots, but your first one you pay for. It is a minimum of one hour, so it can be as cheap as $65. The 206 is not the cheapest CAP aircraft.

I've seen the good and bad of CAP. Everyone needs to check it out for themselves. Don't judge one CAP person or squadron; get the "big picture".

Burlcfii

CAp has been great to me. I started as a Cadet in the 90's, and this really pushed me into loving aviation. Even as a cadet i didn't feel a push to be in the military. i took a 4 year break during college and then returned and started flying with them. i am now the Standardization and Evaluation Officer(Chief Check Pilot) for my wing (state). This has been a life saver. Since i wasn't able to pursue an aviation career right out of college CAP has allowed me to continue building time in the hopes that i will one day get a flying job. Being a Check Pilot CAP sent me to Kansas where i spent a week becoming a Cessna FITS certified instructor for the G-1000. this was done at no cost to me. I now fly C-172, C-182T NAVIII (G-1000), and Gippsland GA-8 with CAP and love every minute.

And to those critics you better watch out. God forbid you have a crash and are stuck in the wilderness somewhere most likely it will be a CAP aircrew and ground crew who will find you. Our main focus is Disaster Relief and Search and Rescue.

There are many benifits and low cost flying is one of them. you can rent a brand new C-182T NAVIII for $28.00 and hour plus fuel, in todays market that equals about 85-95 per hour. go to your local FBO or flight school and you will pay about double that. I hope this helps, and i didnt get to read all the postings so i hope i didnt hit the same points.

AirTrucker

Would it be a good way to step back in to flying? I am already a teacher in the AEL lab at the local college for the SEMAA program, but that's only sitting in a basic sim with teenagers showing (and teaching) them the basic basics of flying, and I like because it keeps my knowledge fresh and I enjoy working with the teenagers, but its not actual flying lol. I am a medical student so time and $$ have been a bit of an issue with flying. From the post it sounds interesting, I know they have a hanger at the local airport. The only issue with me might be time because my life is now study study study study with possible clinical rotations starting in the fall and a summer internship with NASA. But if I could find a nice break from the books and participate in my other passion (flying) that would just be awesome! As a participant in CAP, do you think it would be a good thing to pursue despite some time issues? I sounds interesting and like something that I would enjoy.

N9373M

I'm sure every wing is different, but one of the partners in my plane joined. He became disenchanted with the politics, paperwork, and lack of flying. He did everything he was supposed to do, but could never get in the left seat.

USMCFLYR

As I was dropping off a passenger at the San Diego airport today I struck up a conversation with the guy sitting next to me.
Turns out that he is a retired O-5 Navy Helo pilot and volunteers with a CAP squadron.
I did it for a few months back in high school.
I'm sure squadrons (or whatever they are called) vary greatly in tone and personality, but I didn't get that much out of it.
I thought it was neat to hear this guy talk about some of the *missions* that he has gone on though.
We got to talking about me trying to learn the Garmin 430 and 530 and he mentioned that he is getting pretty good at working with the Garmin 1000 in their C-182. Sounds pretty fancy!

USMCFLYR

Burlcfii

it is a good way to get back in if you are already a pilot. CAP can not be used to train a new pilot. they make it clear that CAP is not a flight school for new pilots. It can however be used to add additional license once you have had time in CAP. if you are a pilot who is not current it is a cheaper way to get up with an instructor and get current, or get a biennal. CAP instructors cannot charge for instruction so you save there to.