From: dls@freedom.genrad.com (Diana L. Carlson)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation
Subject: Re: Civil Air Patrol/CAP thoughts
Date: 18 Nov 1992 07:31:53 -0500
Organization: GenRad, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: freedom.genrad.com
Keywords: Civil Air Patrol/CAP

In article <1992Nov17.234419.27387@odin.corp.sgi.com> jerryb@jerber.sandiego.sgi.com (Jerry Bransford) writes:
>Any constructive comments on joining the Civil Air Patrol program?  I just
>received my license and have considered joining the CAP organization to
>gain flying experience and do something useful with my license (flying 200
>miles for a hamburger lunch is not my idea of useful things to do with a
>license).

Civil Air Patrol is an excellent way of keeping your interest in flying.
Especially if you enjoy continually learning, since there is always a SAREX
or practice session going on somewhere in the state (CAP is divided on state
boundaries, however, it is a Federally funded organization).  I would 
definitely recommend CAP for anyone who is interested in aviation WHETHER 
OR NOT they are pilots.

>I understand 200 hours of PIC is required to fly in the left-hand seat, but
>that's OK, I can do a pretty good job on radios (also have a ham radio
>license), etc until I get my 200 hours PIC. 

This is not correct.  It does NOT require 200 hours PIC to "fly in the left
seat".  It DOES require 200 hours PIC to be a Mission Pilot on a real mission.
However, the MP can sit in EITHER SEAT, he just has to be Acting Pilot-in-
Command.  To BE IN the airplane of a real mission does require a CAP rating,
however, this could be Mission Observer or Mission Scanner, and neither of
these require even a pilot's license (although most observers are also pilots).
There is also a requirement of 200 hours PIC to be a Cadet Orientation Pilot.
There is a requirement of 100 hours PIC to be a Mission Transport Pilot.

>Finally, just how closely aligned with the USAF is CAP?  I was in the Air
>Force from 1966 to 1970 (a loonnnggg time ago!) and don't want to feel like
>I've rejoined the USAF again.  I was younger and 'more agreeable' then.  I
>liked the Air Force, but I'm not going to be able to put up with uniform
>inspections, etc again.

CAP is aligned closely with the USAF.  Most of the funding is direct from the
USAF, and CAP is in fact an auxiliary of the USAF.  However, there is no 
requirement to wear the USAF uniform.  There are a few other acceptable
uniforms for those who cannot or don't want to wear the USAF style uniform.
In general, even when wearing the USAF style uniform, there are no 
"inspections" but you ARE expected to maintain proper wearing of the uniform,
IF YOU WEAR IT.  That means no hair below the collar for women (put your hair
up), no hair below the top of the collar for men (see above), be within the
weight requirements for the uniform (the weight requirements are NOT as strict
as USAF weight requirements, but they are absolute), wear the uniform in neat
and appropriate manner, with all patches and rank and ribbons in their proper
place, shoes polished (but not spit polished like in USAF), etc.  If you don't
want to conform to these expectations, DON'T WEAR the USAF style uniform,
wear a different CAP uniform.

Hope this helps.

Diana


-- 
->Diana L. (Syriac) Carlson dls@genrad.com	Ham: KC1SP (Sweet Pea)      <-
->I'D RATHER BE FLYING!	P-ASEL, INST		CAP: CPT, Freedom 690 Mobile<-
->AD ASTRA, PER ASPERA				Airplane: C-172 N6513E	    <-
->GenRad, MS/6, 300 Baker Ave, Concord, Mass.  01742  (508)369-4400 x2459   <-
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