Quote:
Originally Posted by block30
HA! I've heard every bleeding heart excuse about how great CAP is. Been there, done that, don't buy it.
Yes CAP does undercut legitimate businesses. Yes CAP is government subsidized. Period. If US Customs is a government funded flying club, screw them too.
I can't believe how pilots come on here and ----- about being undercut by such and such pilot group and go on to condone the BFRs and Sunday afternoon flying that is done by CAP.
Thanks for undercutting professionals' jobs.
Oh, it costs money to rent planes? Sure, when mother government isn't greasing the path for you. I have no sympathy.
Block30, you're so far off base it isn't even worth replying to you. Nothing anybody says will dissuade your from your opinion. You're certainly welcome to it, but it's just wrong on so many levels.
CAP is a volunteer civilian organization. As such it has many issues, not the least of which is bureacracy. That said, it can be very rewarding to be involved in the organization. It has a lot to offer to individuals who are members and to the community that it serves. One must be willing to donate time, effort, and money in order to derive benefits from being a member though. It also helps to have loads of patience.
To the original poster, try to visit a couple of the squadrons in your area. Good advice has been given to find a Senior squadron with a corporate aircraft. If you're interested in the cadet program then a Composite Squadron would be okay as well. The key thing though is that the squadron has a corporate aircraft. CAP owns over 500 aircraft so it shouldn't be too difficult to find a squadron that has one. Each squadron has it's own unique character so try to find one that you think will fit.
It will take months or even a year+ in order to join the squadron and get fully checked out to start participating in missions. As a soon to be CFI you certainly have something to offer to the squadron.
I grew up in California and was a member of various squadrons in that state for over 15 years. In the end I was on wing staff and was a check pilot. As such I had a lot of flying opportunies come my way. It ranged from doing cadet orientation flights; to flying search and rescue missions; flying the press on publicity flights; to shuttling wing staff around on official business. By far the most rewarding, and most serious, is search and rescue flying.
My involvement in CAP has had a profound effect on my career. I met the person who led me to choose San Jose State University through CAP. While at San Jose State I met a person in CAP who gave me a job as a flight instructor and later made sure I got a job at a commuter in California after graduation.
CAP saves the lives of an average of 100 people in the USA every year. They offer a range of services to State and Federal agencies at a fraction of the cost of a government organization, saving the tax payer significant money. They provide a place for young people interested in aviation or the military a chance to experience it first hand.
You'll hear the usual people chime in about CAP pilots are morons who can't fly; who cut them off in the pattern; who look stupid in a military uniform; etc; etc; Some of it is true. There are some real horse's behinds in the CAP, but if you're really interested give it a try.
Typhoonpilot