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Robert M. Gary wrote:
Has anyone on this list working with CAP. I'm a CFI and would be willing to donate some instruction if they were interested and if it were helpful. Is CAP interested in civilian CFIs or just those with a military background? What does it mean that some CAP orgs are "Cadet" and some are "composite"? As a CFI would I need to commit to a large chunk of time as a CFI or just a couple hours a weekend? There doesn't seem to be much info on the web, they seem to just point you to the local groups. -Robert I believe there is also a civilian branch of the CAP which is composed of private pilots donating their time as they are able. Antonio |
#2
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Just be sure you have a high tolerance for the military mindset. Remember,
if you discover a safety problem, it is not a problem and does not exist if mentioning it would embarrass a senior officer. If it really was a problem, you can be sure that someone senior to you would have already discovered and taken care of it. I joined as a maintenance officer and foolishly thought that it might be part of my job to review the aircraft logs and give the aircraft a careful look over. What I discovered was rather shocking. The aircraft were not legal. AD's were not complied with. Instruments were improperly marked. POH's were not updated with proper fuel consumption and weight and balance numbers after engine conversions. One plane was even missing it's ELT antenna. The coax just ran up under the panel and ended. I'd already learned that there was no point in reporting such things to Wing in order to get them corrected because CAP operates to the highest professional standards, has their planes inspected every 100 hours, and any problems would certainly be discovered by trained A&P's at the next inspection. Just before I took over, a plane was stumbling and losing power on climb out. Permission to have it checked out was denied because it was clearly the result of pilots adjusting the mixture improperly at our sea level airport and something that remedial training would resolve. (It turned out to be all except two bolts sheered on an intake manifold.) My C.O., who was quite sympathetic to my position, agreed that getting some independent verification would be helpful. I therefore, and with his approval, took advantage of the FSDO safety inspection which is segregated from enforcement action. They confirmed what I found and discovered so many other deficiencies that I was a bit embarrassed. I wrote up my report and gave it to my C.O. to take up to Wing. It happened to be pilot meeting night. Because the PIC is responsible for the condition of the aircraft, my C.O. agreed that we had to share the findings with the pilots. The result of my report and the pilot meeting was a blast from wing. It was announced that, "after extensive discussions with the FAA" the aircraft were found to be fully airworthy and I had overstepped my authority by investigating the logbooks and inspecting the aircraft. Since the FAR's require every PIC to have done this, I find it odd that a maintenance officer would be the only pilot not permitted to do so. My C.O. was then told to reassign me which he refused to do. Wing simply stopped answering my calls and emails which made it impossible to do the job so I quite and went on leave. A few months later, I resigned. I learned later that the planes were put in the shop and thousands of dollars spent on them. Personnel changes were made and, when the new maintenance officer calls up to say something it wrong, it gets fixed. Basically, they did everything they should have done and I achieved what I set out to do. Of course, I'm no longer in CAP and I would like to be because it is something I believe in. I don't want this post to be viewed primarily as a criticism or attack on CAP. It's really about the rank based, military, model of organizations. Making your superiors look good is job one. Safety and achieving the aims of the organization are jobs 2 and 3. When there is a conflict, prioritize accordingly. As I said shortly after all this happened, I thought at first that I had uncovered a pocket of corruption but I had really only uncovered a pocket of absolute normalcy. I just heard on NPR (and excuse me if I didn't get it quite straight) two FBI agents tried to point out before 911 that middle easterners that the INS had lost track of were taking flight training and there was talk about flying airliners into buildings. They were told to keep such fantasies to themselves. They went around their superiors and it was the end of their careers. 911 did not resurrect their careers. This story was in connection with Congress just declining to pass a law to protect such people. It makes me feel a lot better to know that Congress would agree that it is appropriate for me to no longer be in CAP. I made service a lot safer for the people I admire who get the call to go out and fly in the dark to help others. The price of doing that is no longer being able to serve myself but that is just the way of things. It's not a CAP problem, it's a problem of our whole culture. -- Roger Long |
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CAP has cadet only squadrons and ones with both cadet and senior members
as well as senior only squadrons. Cadet's may take flight training for PP while seniors may only go for additional ratings. CAP offers cadets very good rates for the aircraft and as you said the CFI can not charge for his time. A 172 here is $50.00 wet a 182 is $55.00 not a bad price. You only need to take on as much as you wish. However, CAP primary mission is search and rescue. As an Aux. of the USAF there are the typical military rules and regulations to be followed. I work with our Group HQ in managing the Cadet Orientation Flights for a third of the state (PA). Each cadet get 10 flights, 5- 1 hr powered and 5 glider. This really get them interested in flight training and some have followed through and became pilots and went on to be USAF pilots. So if interested contact your local units and find one that has aircraft (not all do) and check them out Ron Gardner "Robert M. Gary" wrote: Has anyone on this list working with CAP. I'm a CFI and would be willing to donate some instruction if they were interested and if it were helpful. Is CAP interested in civilian CFIs or just those with a military background? What does it mean that some CAP orgs are "Cadet" and some are "composite"? As a CFI would I need to commit to a large chunk of time as a CFI or just a couple hours a weekend? There doesn't seem to be much info on the web, they seem to just point you to the local groups. -Robert |
#4
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What is the general commitment requirements after joing CAP?
How many times a week and for how long would one need to commit to. I think this sounds really great, and would like to learn a bit more about the requirements. Thanks! |
#5
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What is the general commitment requirements after joing CAP?
How many times a week and for how long would one need to commit to. Well, our squadron meets weekly, for about 2.5 hours. There are encampments and other training, too. You can put in as little (or as much) time as you have available. -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA Pathfinder N56993 www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" "Gary G" wrote in message ... I think this sounds really great, and would like to learn a bit more about the requirements. Thanks! |
#6
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Another question about CAPS. Are their any maintinance jobs in CAPS. I got a
package from them ..it had accountants listed but no A&P's etc. , just didn't make alot of sense to me! Wish I could get some sport pilot training through them. With my limited funds it would be great to trade my time for some flight lessons!!! If they give them to old codgers like me! HAHAHA Patrick "Jay Honeck" wrote in message news:2lc9d.198258$MQ5.73279@attbi_s52... What is the general commitment requirements after joing CAP? How many times a week and for how long would one need to commit to. Well, our squadron meets weekly, for about 2.5 hours. There are encampments and other training, too. You can put in as little (or as much) time as you have available. -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA Pathfinder N56993 www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" "Gary G" wrote in message ... I think this sounds really great, and would like to learn a bit more about the requirements. Thanks! |
#7
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Another question about CAPS. Are their any maintinance jobs in CAPS. I got
a package from them ..it had accountants listed but no A&P's etc. , just didn't make alot of sense to me! Wish I could get some sport pilot training through them. With my limited funds it would be great to trade my time for some flight lessons!!! If they give them to old codgers like me! HAHAHA Patrick, you've got to actually talk to a wing commander, rather than relying on CAP's printed promotional materials. One thing I've found is that CAP is WAY more involved than their brochures let on. I'd be willing to bet that someone, somewhere, in CAP, will give their eye teeth to have an A&P join. (I'm fairly certain you are commissioned an officer right away, if you're an A&P) -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA Pathfinder N56993 www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" |
#8
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Well Jay I didn't know you were in CAP. Some day I hope to get out your way and
meet you. Ron Jay Honeck wrote: What is the general commitment requirements after joing CAP? How many times a week and for how long would one need to commit to. Well, our squadron meets weekly, for about 2.5 hours. There are encampments and other training, too. You can put in as little (or as much) time as you have available. -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA Pathfinder N56993 www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" "Gary G" wrote in message ... I think this sounds really great, and would like to learn a bit more about the requirements. Thanks! |
#9
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Well Jay I didn't know you were in CAP. Some day I hope to get out your
way and meet you. Well, Ron, I'm just four months into it, along with my 14 year old son. (It was actually his suggestion -- how could I argue? :-) So far, it's been a great experience! I've really only been concentrating on the cadet program, but hope to find time to get flight certified and involved in ES training once we're in the off-season at the inn. -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA Pathfinder N56993 www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" |
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