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***Washington Wing***

***Civil Air Patrol***

***United States Air Force Auxiliary***

***Mission Observer***

***Prep Course***

The information in this manual is compiled from multiple sources to
include the CA Wing Observer Course, the National HQ In-flight Guide,
and the National HQ Aircrew Textbook.

Mission Observer Preparation Course

**Introduction and Purpose**

Welcome to the Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol Basic Aircrew School.
This prep course is designed to help you become better prepared to
endure the riggers of the Basic Aircrew School.

The Mission Observer is a vital member of the Aircrew Team. You are a
member of a team that is at the "Tip of the spear" in CAP. Your team
mates are: Mission Pilot (the PIC or Pilot in Command), Mission Scanner,
and Aerial Photographer. As an Observer you make it possible for the
pilot to focus on flying the aircraft safely and accurately by assuming
many of the duties and workload of navigation and radio communication as
well as maintaining the flight log. You also make it possible for the
scanners to focus on visual search and the aerial photographer to focus
on taking the picture. The observer also serves in a limited role as a
scanner. **\*Note:** When flying on a two person aircrew the observer
serves more as a scanner once you are actually in the grid. In the two
person aircrew the pilot will take on more of the navigational duties.
However, your skill and knowledge with the GPS can set the pilot up for
success prior to entering the grid.

**Prerequisites to attend the WA Wing Basic Aircrew School**

-   Current CAP Member

-   GES Qualified

-   Be at least 18 years of age

-   Hold a CAPF76 (ROA Card)

-   Have certification of First Aid Training

-   Be rated as a Scanner and complete all the requirements set forth by
    the SQTR for Mission Observer ***[or]{.underline}*** Graduate from
    the National Mission Aircrew School or the Wing Basic Aircrew School

**References**

-   CAPR 60-1 (Flight Management)

-   CAPR 60-3 (Emergency Services Training and Operational Missions)

-   CAPR 60-4 (CAP Emergency Services Mission Forms)

-   CAPR 35-6 (Aeronautical Ratings)

-   National Mission Aircrew Text

-   CAP In-flight guide

-   National Aircrew Task Guide

-   WA Wing Practical Test Standards for Aircrew Members

-   AC 61-23 (FAA Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge)

**Questions**

-   What are the Prerequisites to be rated as an Observer?

**Observer Duties and Responsibilities**

Your job as an observer is to take the workload off of the pilot (you
are ***not*** just a dude with a set of eyeballs). A short breakdown of
responsibilities follows:

-   Report w/mission pilot to briefing

-   Flight Plan a route to the sortie objective and recommend magnetic
    course heading to the mission pilot

-   Set up and operate the CAP Radio

-   Set up and operate the GPS Navigation system

-   Set up and operate the VOR and ADF radios

-   Set up and assist in operating the ATC radios

-   Monitor and operate electronic DF search equipment

-   Coordinate Scanner Assignments (this especially comes into play when
    flying in the C206)

-   Maintain Flight Log -- This is best facilitated with use of the
    WAWINGForms1AC to 9AC

-   Complete back of CAPF104 or ICS 220 and report to debrief at AirOps

**WA Wing Aircraft**

There are currently 12 \* aircraft in WA Wing available for Search, HLS,
CD, and DR sorties. The break down as follows:

-   7xC182

-   2xC206

-   1xTU206 (a C206 with a turbo engine)

-   1xC182RG (C182 with retractable landing gear)

-   1xMT7 MAULE

-   \* Note: Fire Mountain Composite Squadron owns a C150 with L-Tronics
    DF gear and CAP Radio. This is *not* a CAP corporate aircraft.

All aircraft are equipped with DF gear. One C182, and the MAULE have the
Becker SAR/DF gear. All other aircraft have the L-Tronics DF gear.

**Observer Log**

The observer is responsible for maintaining the log of the flight. There
are 10 different observer log forms that will assist you in your
efforts. These are the WAWINGForms1AC to 9AC. On each sortie it is
recommended that you use a 7AC and a 9AC. As well as one of the other
forms depending on the type of sortie.

-   1AC -- Used for Parallel Line (grid searches), and Contour Searches

> ![](media/image5.wmf){width="1.25625in" height="1.7486111111111111in"}
> (Example 1AC)

-   2AC -- Used for Route Searches and Transport Sorties

-   3AC -- Used for Photo Recon Sorties of a single target

-   3AC Continuation -- Used for Photo Recon Sorties with multiple
    targets

-   4AC -- Used for ELT missions

-   5AC -- Used for Creeping Line Sorties

-   6AC -- Used for Hi-Bird Operations

> ![](media/image6.wmf){width="1.8722222222222222in" height="1.5in"}
> (Example 6AC)

-   7AC -- Communication Card

> ![](media/image7.wmf){width="1.3854166666666667in"
> height="2.1222222222222222in"} (Example 7AC)

-   8AC -- Used for Expanding Square Searches

-   9AC -- Used for Flight Planning and in-flight log

> ![](media/image8.wmf){width="1.3625in" height="2.1458333333333335in"}
> (Example 9AC)

The log is vital. It is the link between the aircrew and the IC. It is
in many ways the most critical portion of the mission. A good technique
is to staple your 1AC to the CAPF104 or ICS220. It will "paint a
picture" for the IC during the de-brief. Remember it is better to log
too much information than not enough. It must be maintained as you go
along on the sortie. The above photo is of the 1AC. Each log is tailored
to meet its specific purpose. Normally you will use a 7AC and 9AC with
each sortie and one additional form depending on the type of sortie
being flown.

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**The TDFM-136 CAP FM radio is currently only on one WA Wing Aircraft
(CAPF4692 -- the new C182)**

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practice on.

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**[DF Operations]{.underline}**

> **You will be provided several checklists on how to operate both the
> L-Tronics DF gear and the new Becker SAR DF. Critical to your success
> is to actually follow the checklists.**
>
> **[Normal DF Search Procedures]{.underline}**
>
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**Glossary for the Observer**

-   ADF -- Automatic Direction Finding -- Navigation radio used in
    conjunction with a NDB (1^st^ Generation radio navigation) -- The
    needle always points to the NDB

-   AFD -- Airport Facilities Directory -- Contains all of the
    information you will need regarding navigation and radio frequencies
    -- Lists all of the airports in WA State that we are authorized to
    land at

-   CD -- Counter Drug

-   CAP Pilot -- Holds an FAA rating of atleast a private pilot and has
    passed a CAPF5 check ride -- Is ***not*** a mission pilot

-   DF -- Direction Finding -- electronic gear on the aircraft used to
    find ELT

-   DME -- Distance Measuring Equipment -- Used in conjunction with VOR
    radio measure slant range from aircraft to the VOR

-   DR -- Disaster Relief

-   ELT -- Emergency Locator Transmitter -- Beacon mounted on aircraft
    that when activated emits a pulsing signal on frequencies of 121.5,
    or 243, or 406

-   GES -- General Emergency Services -- First rating a member of CAP
    receives -- basically allows you to go to a mission base and help on
    the ground where needed

-   GPS -- Global Positioning Satellite

-   HLS -- Home Land Security

-   IC -- Incident Commander

-   ICS -- Chain of command system used by all Emergency Services
    agencies (Fire/Police etc)

-   ICS Forms -- Standard Forms under ICS (The two you will probably use
    the most often will be the ICS211 and the ICS220)

-   Mission -- A particular CAP objective -- made of sorties -- could be
    a single sortie or hundreds of sorties

-   Mission Pilot -- Holds at-least a FAA private pilot license and has
    passed a CAPF91 Check ride (as well as all the training required to
    take the check ride)

-   NDB -- Non-Directional Beacon -- As the name implies the radio
    signal goes out in all directions -- It is what the ADF homes in on

-   REDCAP -- Real World Search Mission

-   Sortie -- Individual aircraft on a mission

-   SAREX -- Search And Rescue Exercise

-   VOR -- Very high frequency Omni-directional Range -- Primary means
    of radio navigation until the advent of GPS