Civil Air Patrol...what I have learned so far

ozone

ozone

Well-Known Member
As a new pilot, I have been casting about to try to find a way to fly without it costing an arm and a leg (I am actually ok with it just costing and arm...but two appendages is too much). So, here's what I have learned so far now that I have sent off my $62 fee to the national CAP headquarters....

1. You are doing something charitable by taking cadets up to learn about the flying environment
2. Their rental rates are ridiculously low ($35/hour in Massachusetts +gas = about $70/hour)
3. As an air-force auxiliary, you can go onto air force bases and use the PX when you are there on official CAP business = no sales tax!
4. As a CAP member, you can also join the very inexpensive flight clubs associated with many air force bases ($70-90/hour wet at Hanscom AFB flight club). This means being able to take family and friends who dont belong to CAP.
5. As a CAP member, your proficiency requirements keep you proficient at flying or else you cant touch the plane.
6. You can do a good deed by ferrying supplies for CAP as a mission pilot
7. You can help in Search and rescue
8. Official CAP business is tax deductible! This includes flying
9. Any money you pay to CAP is also tax deductible
10. At my CAP squadron, there are only 3 pilots (including me and the instructor) who are current enough to fly the plane....this means I am needed unless they want their plane taken away
11. The instructor associated with my squadron only charges $25/hour...this means my plans for an IFR rating may be much cheaper than my primary rating.


...anyone see any flaws so far?!? 'Cause i sure dont.
 
It's a good program. Watch out for obnoxious dirtbags, though.
 
you can also fly 100ft above pattern altitude opposite direction without any radio calls while patrolling a nearby bridge and make me almost crap my pants on multiple occasions...then land for lunch and steal one of our flight schools obviously reserved parking spots as you strut across the ramp in a flight suit, inflatable life vests, and aviator sunglasses (even though its cloudy)
 
Screaming_Emu said:
you can also fly 100ft above pattern altitude opposite direction without any radio calls while patrolling a nearby bridge and make me almost crap my pants on multiple occasions...then land for lunch and steal one of our flight schools obviously reserved parking spots as you strut across the ramp in a flight suit, inflatable life vests, and aviator sunglasses (even though its cloudy)
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... and so it begins :)
 
Screaming_Emu said:
you can also fly 100ft above pattern altitude opposite direction without any radio calls while patrolling a nearby bridge and make me almost crap my pants on multiple occasions...then land for lunch and steal one of our flight schools obviously reserved parking spots as you strut across the ramp in a flight suit, inflatable life vests, and aviator sunglasses (even though its cloudy)
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:rotfl:
 
Screaming_Emu said:
you can also fly 100ft above pattern altitude opposite direction without any radio calls while patrolling a nearby bridge and make me almost crap my pants on multiple occasions...then land for lunch and steal one of our flight schools obviously reserved parking spots as you strut across the ramp in a flight suit, inflatable life vests, and aviator sunglasses (even though its cloudy)
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Your in GA, I'm in MN...they must have a great training program I have seen similar here.
 
ozone said:
11. The instructor associated with my squadron only charges $25/hour...this means my plans for an IFR rating may be much cheaper than my primary rating.


...anyone see any flaws so far?!? 'Cause i sure dont.
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Yeah a few, actually. Your instructor needs to review CAPR 60-1 para. 2-1j, and presuming you're not yet trained as a SAR/DR Mission Pilot, you'll need to review para. 2-8c.

But otherwise, you're correct. I saved a fortune on my instrument and commercial tickets by doing them in CAP aircraft with CAP instructors. Colorado Wing has one of the few remaining retracts in CAP, a turbo 182 rg based at COS, so you'll be able to use that for your commercial checkride if that's not too far from you. (And if/when the time comes for your checkride, whatever you do, don't use Lyle Mortensen for an examiner. Use Lynn French instead. Trust me on this.)
 
ozone said:
As a new pilot, I have been casting about to try to find a way to fly without it costing an arm and a leg (I am actually ok with it just costing and arm...but two appendages is too much). So, here's what I have learned so far now that I have sent off my $62 fee to the national CAP headquarters....
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Welcome! I hope you enjoy your membership. I joined three years ago for nearly the same reasons and still haven't regretted it.

meritflyer said:
Does CAP operate their flights under IFR or VFR (or both)?
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The vast majority of CAP flights are VFR. Some transport missions and aircraft repositioning flights can be conducted under IFR, though it is rare.

Screaming_Emu said:
you can also fly 100ft above pattern altitude opposite direction without any radio calls while patrolling a nearby bridge and make me almost crap my pants on multiple occasions...then land for lunch and steal one of our flight schools obviously reserved parking spots as you strut across the ramp in a flight suit, inflatable life vests, and aviator sunglasses (even though its cloudy)
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You should have reported them. Seriously.
 
What does one usually spend a year on CAP. As for the rental? I am confused. Are you allowed to rent the airplanes and fly them(for pleasure)?
 
mshunter said:
What does one usually spend a year on CAP.
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My first year, I think I dropped nearly $1500 but that included uniforms as well. (Full set of blues, BDUs, and Flight Suit + insignia for each). You could spend as little as fifty some bucks a year which would keep your membership active, but little else. Last year, I spent $400 attending training (most training is free though).

As for the rental? I am confused. Are you allowed to rent the airplanes and fly them(for pleasure)?
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Well, yes, kinda. You would have to justify the flight plus there are restrictions on who you can take up with you.
 
mshunter said:
What does one usually spend a year on CAP. As for the rental? I am confused. Are you allowed to rent the airplanes and fly them(for pleasure)?
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Depends on how you define "pleasure". You're allowed to use them for maintaining proficiency, but not for "personal use". You're limited to destinations within your state, unless approved by the state-level commander (or higher). Non-members are permitted to fly as passengers only in very limited instances where it is mission-essential. To get around this, I simply had my girlfriend become a member so I could take her along whenever I flew. And don't we look cute together:

l_08a4c74b7ded479315c100f02d45fd64.jpg


On the other hand, where else are you going to be able to fly a well-maintained, G-1000-equipped C-182 for $80/hr wet? Nowhere, that's where.

As for expenses, figure $60-80 membership dues, depending on where you live. For a uniform (which is required when flying CAP aircraft), you can get away with as little as a CAP polo shirt and gray slacks. I'd figure maybe $100-150 in annual fixed expenses. Aircraft checkouts and proficiency flying are generally at your expense on top of that.
 
aloft said:
Yeah a few, actually. Your instructor needs to review CAPR 60-1 para. 2-1j, and presuming you're not yet trained as a SAR/DR Mission Pilot, you'll need to review para. 2-8c.
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Thanks for that info! I read up on that stuff, and at 73 hours total time, at least i can build up time to get my mission pilot status/SAR status or whatever and THEN go do more training.

In my situation with CAP here, I think some of the regs you mentioned may be able to be bent slightly so that they can keep the plane (or else it gets transferred to another wing...so I have been told)

I moved to Massachusetts and forgot to change my info, so although your advice on people in colorado was good, I will just have to find my own way out here. :)
 
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