CAP volunteer?

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

Thanks. As an adult, if I join do I need to wear the uniform? I
currently wear a uniform as a Scout leader but the CAP uniforms look
too much like military. My father was a Naval officer so I wouldn't
want to give the impression that I was in the military.

My son and I joined CAP about four months ago. Our composite (meaning it
has both senior and cadet members) squadron is quite new, being less than
one year old. Thus, we have sort of gotten in on the "ground floor" with
this squadron -- meaning that we get to do a LOT more work than we bargained
for at the start!

Even though I have yet to receive my "commission" as a lieutenant (which all
experienced pilots receive), I have been made the squadron's "Aerospace
Officer." This, of course, is because I am the first (and, thus far,
only!) pilot in the squadron. (It seems that all the CAP pilots in the area
prefer to go to the Cedar Rapids squadron, 25 miles north of us, where kids
are not allowed.)

As such, I will be conducting classes in basic aviation for the squadron.
I'm holding our next meeting at my hangar, where the kids will get some
detailed, hand's-on experience with our airplane. Later this month, I'm
taking them on a tower tour up on Cedar Rapids. And later still, I will let
my grizzled old A&P show the cadets an airplane that's all torn down for
maintenance.

So far, I have been quite pleased with the experience. My son is 14, and
had been in Boy Scouts since age 7. Scouting was a good experience, but had
recently devolved into more and more chaotic meetings and camping trips,
with little discipline and a lot more screwing around than learning. Thus,
it was actually Joey who suggested CAP, after having seen them in Oshkosh
every summer directing airplanes.

CAP discipline is military without being overbearing, and my son took to it
right away. The uniforms -- BDUs (Battle Dress Uniforms, or combat
fatigues) and Corporate (basically a sport coat and dress slacks with CAP
insignia and rank) feel a little goofy at first, but one gets used to them.
Although I own a flight suit (which I bought on Ebay for knocking around the
hangar, changing oil, etc.) I have not been "flight certified" yet by CAP,
so haven't had a chance to wear it "for real."

Joey has gone on several CAP encampments, learned how to use a radio
direction finder, and gone for glider orientation flights. He is now
Emergency Services certified, and seems to be learning a lot and having a
good time -- which is, after all, the whole reason we joined. (I have very
little time to devote to CAP, since I work every weekend at the inn.
Luckily, the squadron commanders and other senior members have been more
than helpful with transportation, etc.)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote


My son and I joined CAP about four months ago. Our composite (meaning it
has both senior and cadet members) squadron is quite new, being less than
one year old. Thus, we have sort of gotten in on the "ground floor" with
this squadron -- meaning that we get to do a LOT more work than we
bargained
for at the start!


My son is 14, and
had been in Boy Scouts since age 7. Scouting was a good experience, but
had
recently devolved into more and more chaotic meetings and camping trips,
with little discipline and a lot more screwing around than learning.
Thus,
it was actually Joey who suggested CAP, after having seen them in Oshkosh
every summer directing airplanes.

--
Jay Honeck

Much snipping, for shortness!

You should have him come over and check out Aviation Explorers, while at OSH
next year, too. We are involved in directing airplanes, even on taxiways.
For that, you have to be 18, and three years experience at OSH. The younger
ones help with parking all of the homebuilts in the show area. There is
much more free time than the CAPS, if that is important to you.

You could also start your very own Aviation Explorer post, also. It is not
that hard, and it would be a great chance to turn on a lot of other kids to
aviation. It is a Learning for Life program, which is also a Boy Scout
affiliate. Let me know if you want more details, as far as the contacts to
get information.

Really, *all of you* with young teens and up, or with an interest in helping
some youth, should check out Aviation Explorers. It is a great thing to be
involved in. Plus, it a great way to camp at OSH in a private camp
situation, with meals and all, for $125, for the week. g
--
Jim in NC


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Really, *all of you* with young teens and up, or with an interest in
helping
some youth, should check out Aviation Explorers. It is a great thing to
be
involved in. Plus, it a great way to camp at OSH in a private camp
situation, with meals and all, for $125, for the week. g

Thanks for the info, Jim. I'd love to be more involved with Aviation
Explorers -- hell, I'd like to be more involved with everything my kids do.
But there aren't enough hours in the day as it is. For now, CAP is the
way he wants to go.

By the way, you forgot to factor in the price of a new automatic
transmission into your camping costs!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote

For now, CAP is the
way he wants to go.

Understood. Not a bad way to go. Will he be there with the cadets camping
next year? He (and any other people in RAP with 14 to18 year old kids) are
still welcome to stop by and see what Aviation Explorers are all about.
Check in at the office.

By the way, you forgot to factor in the price of a new automatic
transmission into your camping costs!

;-)

OOOOOOOHHHH ! THAT is REEEAAALLY ...... *LOW*

You sure know how to hurt a guy. :-0

If you look at it THAT way, it was only $260.71 per day. Plus gas, and LOTS
of transmission fluid on the way there!

Gotta laugh, or you will cry! sheepish grin
--
Jim in NC



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Understood. Not a bad way to go. Will he be there with the cadets
camping
next year? He (and any other people in RAP with 14 to18 year old kids)
are
still welcome to stop by and see what Aviation Explorers are all about.
Check in at the office.

Nah, the CAP guys you see there are the "best of the best." They have to
pass a class, and be a member for "x" number of months/years, and jump
through a bunch of hoops in order to be accepted at OSH.

It's hard to believe that they compete so hard to be hot, sweaty, dusty,
sunburned, and tired, no? Ah, youth...

You sure know how to hurt a guy. :-0

Sorry, man.

But you also forgot to list in the "positive" side that you have access to
"God's Own Grill" whenever you want!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

CAP is almost always looking for CFIs. If you join, they will make you a
captain.

Keeping everyone trained and qualified seems to be the big challenge at our
squadron. Our CFI has to be checked out so that he can perform the Form 5
checkrides for the rest of the pilots. Once you get your level 1 training
completed (really just a CAP orientation), your fingerprints done, and get
your Form 5 checkride in the squadron's plane, you'll be a very popular guy.
Other squadrons will want to use your services in addition to the squadron
you belong to.

My squadron has cadets now, but it didn't start that way. It's always been a
composite squadron, but when I joined there were no cadets. Hence, I have
seen both sides of the coin. I have to say that I like the cadets being
around. I was with a young girl when she took her first airplane ride and it
was as exciting for me as it was for her. She could hardly contain herself
once we got back on the ground. Teenagers can be awfully downbeat sometimes,
so it was great to see one so happy and excited.

Another note about uniforms: If your squadron has cadets, you MUST be in
uniform when you attend meetings or any CAP function. CAP is very very
strict about how senior member interact with the cadets. A good portion of
your level one training is about child abuse by authority figures, not
unlike those who would be in CAP. In our squadron, the cadets are treated
with the utmost respect and in return, they are probably more professional
than the seniors! Their uniforms look a lot better than ours do for sure.

I have BDU's and the green nomex AF flight suit. It looks exactly like the
AF version (we have active AF members) except it has a couple of different
patches. I don't have the gray slacks type of uniform right now. .You must
wear some kind of uniform if you fly the CAP plane for training or on actual
missions. At first, I felt very self-concious about being seen in the
uniform outside CAP (grocery store, pumping gas etc.), but you get used to
it. My neighbors were afraid I was being shipped off to Iraq!

-Trent
PP-ASEL

2LT, MC-055 central composite squadron, NC wing

I should mention that CAP has the best abuse training I have seen, way
better than what I took for Boy Scouts or school volunteer.

--

Roger Long



"Trent Moorehead" wrote in message
...

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

CAP is almost always looking for CFIs. If you join, they will make you a
captain.

Keeping everyone trained and qualified seems to be the big challenge at
our
squadron. Our CFI has to be checked out so that he can perform the Form 5
checkrides for the rest of the pilots. Once you get your level 1 training
completed (really just a CAP orientation), your fingerprints done, and get
your Form 5 checkride in the squadron's plane, you'll be a very popular
guy.
Other squadrons will want to use your services in addition to the squadron
you belong to.

My squadron has cadets now, but it didn't start that way. It's always been
a
composite squadron, but when I joined there were no cadets. Hence, I have
seen both sides of the coin. I have to say that I like the cadets being
around. I was with a young girl when she took her first airplane ride and
it
was as exciting for me as it was for her. She could hardly contain herself
once we got back on the ground. Teenagers can be awfully downbeat
sometimes,
so it was great to see one so happy and excited.

Another note about uniforms: If your squadron has cadets, you MUST be in
uniform when you attend meetings or any CAP function. CAP is very very
strict about how senior member interact with the cadets. A good portion of
your level one training is about child abuse by authority figures, not
unlike those who would be in CAP. In our squadron, the cadets are treated
with the utmost respect and in return, they are probably more professional
than the seniors! Their uniforms look a lot better than ours do for sure.

I have BDU's and the green nomex AF flight suit. It looks exactly like the
AF version (we have active AF members) except it has a couple of different
patches. I don't have the gray slacks type of uniform right now. .You must
wear some kind of uniform if you fly the CAP plane for training or on
actual
missions. At first, I felt very self-concious about being seen in the
uniform outside CAP (grocery store, pumping gas etc.), but you get used to
it. My neighbors were afraid I was being shipped off to Iraq!

-Trent
PP-ASEL

2LT, MC-055 central composite squadron, NC wing

"Roger Long" wrote in message . ..
I should mention that CAP has the best abuse training I have seen, way
better than what I took for Boy Scouts or school volunteer.

Are you still in BSA? As a Scout leader I have to recertify with BSA
every year for my "Youth Protection Training". There is an on-line
quiz you must take at the end of it. If you show up for any BSA
activity w/o your current recert, you get sent home. Even if mom wants
to show up at camp for lunch one day, she must get "Youth Protection"
certified. I have boys that want to go on trips with us but unless I
have two adults in the car I cannot take boys other than mine.
Sometimes boys cannot go on trips because we don't have enough adults
to double-up. In the last 5 years this seems to have gotten way more
serious. Of course, I had to get the finger print thing done and the
background thing done. When I was coaching soccer and baseball the
leagues were starting to require similar. Of course any aware adult
today know that you never, never, never get yourself in a situation
where you are alone with a kid other than yours. You just never know
what could be said.

-Robert

No, my kids outgrew Cub Scouts and weren't interested in continuing with
scouting. Sounds like BSA may have caught up to CAP on this issue.

--

Roger Long