# Presentation: 246638

## Search Pilot
Qualification Course

Civil Air Patrol
Auxiliary of the United States Air Force

- Qualification Course
- Civil Air Patrol
- Auxiliary of the United States Air Force

## Dedication

- Mountain Fury is dedicated to all the men and women of the Civil Air Patrol who have given their lives so that others may live

## Course Objectives

- Instruct Civil Air Patrol pilots to fly safely in mountainous terrain

- Instruct Civil Air Patrol _Mission Pilots_ to safely and effectively _search_ in mountainous terrain

## Course Background

- Specific skills are required to safely and effectively conduct mountain flight operations

-  The Civil Air Patrol frequently conducts flight operations in
-    mountainous terrain

-  CAP pilots require academic and flight training in mountain
-    flight operations

-  The Mountain Fury Process Action Team was convened from
-    experts nationwide to develop CAP mountain search course,
-    training requirements, and associated regulations

-  CAP HQ adopted course and associated regulatory changes

## Process Action Team

- Civil Air Patrol Members
- Major Dave Widrig
- Major Bob Wright
- Captain Steve Philipson
- Captain Bill Cummings

- Civilian Members
- Mr. Sparky Imeson
- Dr. John T. Lowry

- Air Force Members
- Major Mark Thompson
- Major Kevin Darroch

## Course Content

**Academic Blocks of Instruction**
**High Altitude Flying**
**Mountain Weather**
**Mountain Flying**
**Mountain Searching**
**Written Examination**
**Flight Training**
**Support Materials**
**Recurrency Training**

## High Altitude Flying

- Pressure altitude
- Density altitude
- Predicting density altitude
- Aircraft performance
- Maximum safe operating altitude
- Aircraft maneuvering
- Physiological effects of altitude
- Personal equipment

## Mountain Weather

- Slopes
- Wind
- Turbulence
- Standing Wave
- Clouds
- Ceilings
- Visibility
- Thunderstorms
- Weather forecasts

## Mountain Flying

- Flying with Mountain Winds
- Exiting Downdrafts
- Crossing ridges
- Canyon Flying
- Sensory illusions
- Mountain Airport Operations
- Night flying
- Mountain Flying Safety

## Mountain Searching

- Route and ELT searching
- Grid navigation
- Search strategies
- Contour searching
- Steep valley searching
- Effects of lighting
- Actions upon target location
- Crew consideration

## Written Examination

- 40 multiple-choice questions
- Closed-book exam
- Covers all material presented in ground school
- Charts needed for reference will be provided
- Seventy-percent passing score
- Successful completion required prior to flying phase

## Flight Training

- Discover how aircraft performance changes with altitude
- Learn techniques of mountain flying
- Learn techniques of mountain search flying
- Designed to be accomplished in four sorties
- Specific but flexible training syllabus
- Flown under the supervision of a Mentor Pilot
- Grade sheets annotated following each flight
- Concluded with Form 91 checkride

## Support Materials

- Ground school training presentation
- Written test
- Videotape
- Course guide
- Briefing guide
- Flight training syllabus
- Applicable regulations

## Recurrency Training

- Required every two years not involving refresher training
- Review instructional material
- Satisfactorily complete written examination
- Satisfactorily complete Form 91 flight evaluation
- Refresher/Reinstatement Training
- Required every four years
- Attend academic training
- Satisfactorily complete written examination
- Satisfactorily complete Form 91 flight evaluation

## Definition:  Mountain Flying

- For the purpose of this course, mountain flying constitutes flying and searching in close proximity to precipitous terrain

## Pre-Flight Preparation

- Accurate weight and balance
- Weather
- Current and forecast weather at departure and destination airports
- Current and forecast weather, winds and temperature aloft
- Density altitude at departure airport and operating altitudes
- Aircraft performance data
- Takeoff and landing distance
- Best rate and angle of climb speeds at takeoff and operating altitudes
- Maximum safe search altitude, stall speed, turn radius, etc.
- Thorough preparation is crucial for safe and effective mountain flying

## Safety First !

- Safety of flight operations in high altitude and mountain operations is paramount
- To achieve this goal, a CAP mission pilot must know where and when to fly (and not to fly)
- Consider density altitude, weather, terrain, aircraft performance, and the physiological limits of the crew before and during each flight
- And always WATCH YOUR AIRSPEED!