CAPblog

Colorado Boy Found Safe

Rescuers found an 8-year-old boy alive Tuesday afternoon after he went missing on Saturday.

Evan Thompson was last seen Saturday morning while camping with his family about 35 miles from Pikes Peak and 90 miles south of Denver.

About 90 ground searchers, dogs, an airplane from the Civil Air Patrol and two National Guard helicopters were combing a 15-square-mile area, retracing earlier searches as well as expanding the zone.

CBS4: Missing 8-Year Old Found After 4 Days In Mountains

:: It made my day to see this search end with a positive result!

Bravo Zulu to the Teams! What great news.

The Creed

It is my duty as a member of the Civil Air Patrol rescue service, to save lives, aid the injured, and protect their property.

In order to do this, I will keep myself physically fit at all times.

I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before my personal desires and comfort.

These things I do that others may live.

:: Have a happy and safe Memorial Day everyone.

Midway Six on The Pilotcast

In our hangar flying with Capt. Rod, he tells us how and why the Civil Air Patrol was formed. We learn about their role in today's world, how their Cadet program trains for leadership, and what adult members can achieve as part of CAP.

Capt. Rod talks about the current fleet of aircraft and what a typical mission in support of Homeland Security, would involve. He describes his most memorable mission, which didn't even involve his piloting a plane. And finally, he talks about how a pilot can best outfit himself to prepare for an emergency.

The Pilotcast: Episode #34

:: The guys from The Pilotcast are a great bunch of pilots who publish their hanger talk to share with everyone. I'm  a big fan of podcasts like The Pilotcast, I look forward to every episode.

So I was thrilled when the guys asked if I would join them on their show to talk to them about CAP.

One thing I thought was very cool about this, was that the episode prior to mine had the Commander of U.S. Navy Blue Angels on as a guest. So it was a hell of an act to follow.

This was my first podcast interview. The show went on for almost an hour, and was fun to do. I enjoyed hanging out with them, and look forward to meeting them inperson sometime.

Enjoy the show. I hope you'll subscibe.

Colorado Wing Assists Search For Lost Boy

There is still no sign of an 8-year-old Lakewood boy who has been missing since Saturday morning near Red Canyon Park.

At least 14 agencies were involved in the search on Monday. A helicopter from the Colorado Army National Guard as well as aircraft from the Civil Air Patrol are also helping in the search.

The Denver Channel: Search For Lakewood Boy Enters Third Day

:: Missing Person Search is one of the toughest types of missions we can fly from the air. The truth is that an 8 year old is a small target, which is tough to spot from the air unless he's trying to be found. But our aircraft are also an important asset, as we can fly low and slow over a search area.

In my experience, we can quickly tell you where the subject is not, (i.e. out in the open) which helps search managers best use ground teams to search tougher terrain.

My thoughts are with the boy's friends and family. Good hunting folks, bring him home.

Vehicle Markings

One proposal that CAP's Operations committee is considering, is standardization of vehicle markings to include big numbers painted on the roofs of our corporate vehicles.

This is an idea that I can get behind.

Some of the details proposed are somewhat wonky. I appreciate that some of our guys operate in the desert, where using "bright fluorescent pink" provides may provide better contrast then "international distress orange," compared against sand and sandstone in the southwestern US.

Still, I vote international distress orange is the way to go.

There has also been some talk of adding a big triangle or some such to the roof markings... This strikes me as adding unnecessary complexity. The argument is the triangle could denote the vehicle's direction... I figure the numbers would do a fine job of that on their own.

This is quite simple really, MAKE THE NUMBERS AS BIG AS POSSIBLE.

So let's have a national standard which puts numbers on n the roofs of our vans and 4x4s to make them easier to spot from the air. I'll all for anything that improves air-to-ground coordination in the field.

CAP Will Transition the ABU

The new uniform design is a pixilated tiger stripe with four soft earth tones consisting of tan, grey, green and blue. The ABU will have a permanent crease and will be offered in 50-50 nylon-cotton blend permanent press fabric eliminating the need for winter and summer weight uniforms.

Air Force News Link: Airman Battle Uniform finalized

:: Word is that a member of the USAF Air Staff has confirmed that the Civil Air Patrol will eventually transition to the new Airman Battle Uniform.

This won't happen for a good long while... The current projected mandatory wear date for the new ABU for active duty Air Force isn't until fiscal 2011. So I wouldn't expect us to make the transition before the active component does.

Ever since the ABU was proposed by the Air Force, there has been all sorts of hand wringing discussion by CAP volunteers about whether we'll be joining our regular forces in the new duds.

I remember back when I was a Cadet, the same sort of kvetching went on when the Air Force transitioned from the old green fatigues to the current Battle Dress Uniform. Same old same old. The Scope of Work defines that CAP will wear the Air Force uniform, just distinctive from active duty forces, when meeting grooming and weight standards.

So now everyone can go forth and tell the worryworts to relax, and get back to work.

Now if we could just please for the love of hypothermia get the damn GORE-TEX ECWCS approved for wear.

[ UPDATE: Note the updated image, with the uniform sporting CAP aquamarine tapes and insignia. The cloth officer grade on the cover is still wishful thinking on the part of Eclipse. ]

Congress Spanks CBP UAV Program

Congress has trimmed funding for the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for border patrol duties until someone can explain what caused a Predator UAV to crash a few hundred feet from a home near Rio Rico, AZ, last month.

AVWeb: Predator Border Patrol Accident Worries Congress

:: You know how I feel about using UAVs over U.S. soil. This is yet another reason why our manned aircraft are the better choice to get the job done.

Don't Believe Everything You Read (on this blog)

Former Gen. Glasgow's letter has riled up a lot of people.

Judging from the comments, lots of folks were ready to take every word as gospel...

Since the letter was published, I've received plenty of phone calls and emails from folks who were closer to the situation than I was, rebutting the allegations against Gen. Pineada made in the letter.

As with any ongoing investigation, there is very little that Leadership can come out and talk about to explain their side of the story. That's just the nature of these things.

This is a classic example of, "He said /He said." Well there are two sides to any story, and folks need to look at things like this critically before they make decisions.

Here's an example of one note from a current CAP NCO, a former USAF Chief Master Sargent:

I spent 28 years in the Air Force where the focus was always: the mission, the mission, the mission.  I am stunned by the open disloyalty, political back biting and back stabbing, I see in CAP.  If it were up me to the Courts-Martial doc would be filled up for a year or two.  My God, how do you get anything done?

You'll find the full text of the Chief's letter after the jump.

Texas Authorizes CAP Deployment to the Border

The governor has directed DPS to support law enforcement patrols with fixed-wing and rotary aviation assets. The Department of Transportation will assist operations with specialized equipment such as road barriers.

Additionally, the governor has authorized the deployment of the Texas Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, to aid ground operations.

The Voice: Protecting Texas’ Border

:: This is a smart move. I would hope that the Governors of the other border states would also start spooling up CAP volunteers to help with what really is a massive job. I have it under good authority that there is more to come.

Spring NEC Meeting Notes

Much has been made of last weekend's National Executive Committee meeting in Atlanta.

So far the focus has been on the new uniform combo and the proposed extension to the CC's term. While the minutes haven't been published yet, here are some of the other things that got done at the meeting that you should have a look at:

OPERATIONS and SAFETY

• New policies approved to increase funds and Air Force assigned mission status for basic proficiency flying. Previous policies only allowed funding for advanced, mission-type training.

LOGISTICS

• New policies for aircraft maintenance cost reimbursement will be phased in over next few years. Will support move to more centralized and accountable maintenance system. Should improve things.
• New policies on distribution of vehicles based on unit requirements and size. Big improvement--gets away from "new vehicles go to the Wing Commander's buddies."
• The next batch of glass-cockpit Cessna 182s will be purchased without factory training. There are enough factory-trained CAP Instructor Pilots in the field, so CAP doesn't need to pay this expense.

FINANCE

• New policy that compels Wings to keep their accounting software open to national level inspection all the times.
• Also, NHQ will start a process to transition management of squadron level funds to new system that will give wings visibility into accounts. This is a big job that will take several years, as there are ~1500 squadrons and this requires cooperation with commercial banks. Both represent HUGE improvement and a cultural shift ensuring accountably to higher authority for the taxpayer's money. Both policies will greatly help auditing process.

LEGAL

• Much discussion of federal protection of CAP member's personal property used in Air Force missions. Not a big issue, as most (more than 95%) CAP flying is done in CAP airplanes. But some members use their personal aircraft, especially twin-engine aircraft for over water missions. Currently, Federal Government does not allow a CAP member to make a claim if his aircraft is damaged while being used for Air Force mission. There was misperception in the field that it did. Aircraft insurance companies will cover damage, but some require specific policy endorsements.

There is a two-part way ahead:

• Educate members to ensure they contact their insurers
• Investigate options to allow member to make a claim against Government for damage to his own property.

CADET PROGRAM

• Cadets now get a free uniform when they join. New policy will require cadets to earn their first stripe before getting the free uniform, normally this takes 4-6 weeks.
• Good change, this should save about $300K annually of appropriated funds, as the attrition in the first phase is high.