Civil Air Patrol - Headline News

Aviation newspaper features Wis. CAP as 'Wing of Excellence'

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

WISCONSIN – Civil Air Patrol's Wisconsin Wing is featured in the Atlantic Flyer, a "Voice of the General Aviation Community" newspaper based in Guilford, Conn. Touted as “A Wing Of Excellence,” the Atlantic Flyer article written by 1^st Lts. Terese Barta and Jeri Gonwa and Senior Member Connie Lichtenwald, focuses on the wing’s involvement in AirVenture, the world’s largest fly-in this summer in Oshkosh, Wis. More than 50 members representing half the squadrons and groups in Wisconsin were assigned daily tasks for AirVenture. National Blue Beret, a National Cadet Special Activity, had more than 60 members provide assistance for the air show.

Civil Air Patrol along East Coast reviewing severe weather plans

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

VERMONT – The Civil Air Patrol is on alert in Vermont for possible evacuation of its air assets to safe haven locations should Hurricane Earl reach northern New England during the upcoming Labor Day weekend. In addition to the Vermont Wing, CAP wings all along the East Coast – from the Carolinas to Maine – are reviewing their emergency plans and options in wake of the Category 4 storm, which threatens the U.S. shoreline over the next three to four days.

300-plus teams already signed up for 'CyberPatriot III'

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

VIRGINIA – With the CyberPatriot III registration deadline of Oct. 8 approaching, the Air Force Association reports that more than 300 teams from 45 states have already organized for the nation’s premier high school cyber defense competition. Teams have registered from public, private, parochial, and home schools in many states in the competition’s Open Division. Additionally, Junior ROTC units of all services and Civil Air Patrol squadrons are rapidly filling the All Service Division in the two-track competition.

Cadet pilot on flying: 'Everything about it is fun'

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

MICHIGAN – Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Dillon Duquette of Grand Blanc is one of a number of Civil Air Patrol cadets who have flown “solo” as 16-year-olds. But before doing that, this aspiring pilot – a member of the Michigan Wing’s Major Joe Koch Memorial Cadet Squadron in Columbiaville – had to his flying skills – from the preflight check to various aerial maneuvers and, of course, landing. Read about Duquette’s recent feat on Mlive.com.

CAP color guard's flag-raising ceremony opens Runway Cafe

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

SOUTH CAROLINA – A CAP color guard’s flag-raising ceremony today will officially kick off the grand opening of the Runway Café at the Greenville Downtown Airport. “Our cadets range from 12 to 18 years old, who have an interest in aviation and search and rescue operations as well as a tremendous amount of pride in this nation,” said 2^nd Lt. Ron Hardgrave, the color guard coordinator of the Greenville Composite Squadron. “These young cadets take pride in their role as members of the colors unit and they consider it an honor to raise the flag for the first time at the Runway Cafe during this ceremony.”

104 W.Va. cadets complete summer encampment

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

WEST VIRGINIA – Civil Air Patrol’s West Virginia Wing recently completed its annual cadet summer encampment at Camp Dawson, an Army National Guard training facility in Kingwood. The weeklong event is held each year in order to give the CAP cadets a greater understanding of CAP and its Air Force missions and capabilities, develop the cadets' leadership skills, enhance their interpersonal and time management skills and instill a sense of pride and discipline in them. A total of 104 cadets from around the state attended this year's encampment.

Va. cadet learns demands of special-ops career dream

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

VIRGINIA -- A Monticello Composite Squadron cadet is realizing his dream through a career-oriented National Cadet Special Activity – Advanced Pararescue Jumper Orientation Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Click here to learn more about Cadet Tech Sgt. Sean Connolly's experience. He was one of 18 CAP cadets to graduate from the course, which is one of 42 activities offered to cadets during the summer months.

Body of Texas CAP member found in wreckage near Ark. airport

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

TEXAS -- Civil Air Patrol has found the crash site of a private plane belonging to one of its members, Charles Miller of Georgetown. The wreckage was spotted by a CAP aircrew Monday afternoon not far from the El Dorado, Ark., airport where Miller was last seen on Thursday, refueling his plane and waiting out a severe storm. Crews from Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana searched for Miller's plane after he failed to reach the Georgetown Municipal Airport Thursday night. Miller was not flying on a CAP mission. According to Miller's wife, Susan, he had flown himself to Ohio on Aug. 12 to attend a school reunion and visit family. Click here to see video of her interview Monday afternoon with a local TV reporter.

La. teen flying high after CAP visit to U.K.

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

LOUISIANA -- A Ball teenager has his head in the clouds -- and that's a good thing for someone very interested in aviation. Civil Air Patrol Cadet Lt. Col. Barry James, 19, of Ball recently returned from visiting the United Kingdom where he "received the best flying experience I could ever imagine" at Royal Air Force Cranwell Air Force Base. James, a member of the Barksdale Composite Squadron in Bossier City, was among 62 CAP cadets from the United States who served as goodwill ambassadors in the International Air Cadet Exchange program. IACE is an annual exchange of visits by air-minded youths of the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, East Asia and the Pacific Rim with the objective of promoting international understanding, goodwill and fellowship among youths.

National cyber defense competition registering teams for fall

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

ARLINGTON, Va. – The registration deadline is looming to participate in the nation’s premier high school cyber defense competition, CyberPatriot III. The registration deadline is Oct. 8 and all Civil Air Patrol units are eligible to register teams in the one-of-a-kind national cyber security competition’s All Service Division. Check out the latest CyberPatriot III reminder from the Air Force Association for details.

Pa. Civil Air Patrol participates in multi-agency training exercises

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

PENNSYLVANIA -- Civil Air Patrol and nine local agencies held three training exercises in Somerset County to assist in emergency response efforts and enhance multi-agency cooperation. The simulated search-and-rescue scenarios included a missing elderly woman from Laurel View Village retirement community and an airplane crash with three passengers on-board. Those involved in the weekend training said it helped them get the kinks out so they are ready for the real thing. Click here to see a TV video report of the training.

Indiana Wing trains cadets at Camp Atterbury

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

INDIANA – Sixty-eight cadets, accompanied by more than 40 staff members, participated in the Indiana Wing Summer 2010 Encampment at Camp Atterbury July 31-Aug. 7. The encampment program is designed to mentor young CAP cadets to give them a positive outlet to learn about aviation and military customs and give them a feeling of real camaraderie between peers as they spend a week training together. Ultimately, the goal is to take the lessons learned and apply them to life, giving these young volunteers an advantage for the future when looking for a career in the military, business, civic or government services.

Hawaii CAP cadets soar into the future

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

HAWAII – Members from Civil Air Patrol's Lyman Field Composite Squadron in Hilo are bidding aloha to four of its cadets as they soar away to college. Although Cadet Capt. Owen Cooper, Cadet Master Sgt. Paulina Castillo, Cadet Staff Sgt. Kawika Kekaualua and Cadet 2nd Lt. Isaac DeRego are headed to different parts of the mainland and different college careers, they have a lot in common. They were all part of the Hawaii Wing CAP cadet program that taught them leadership skills; reinforced the core values of integrity, excellence, respect and volunteer service; enhanced their love of flying with aerospace education classes and hands-on flights in the squadron's Cessna 182 airplane; provided search and rescue training; involved them in many community service activities; and coached them into good physical shape with regular physical training exercises and testing.

How I spent my summer vacation: For one N.J. teen it was learning to fly

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

NEW JERSEY — Conor O'Brien, a rising junior at Montville High School and a cadet chief master sergeant with the Civil Air Patrol, spent his summer vacation learning to fly. The 16-year-old Towaco resident participated in the 10-day New Jersey Wing Eagle Glider Encampment last month, a program run by CAP, in Bethel, Pa. The encampment changed the course of O’Brien’s life. "I was always interested in flying, but while in (the encampment), I got interested in the military," O'Brien said. "I want to be an aviator in the military one day. The Army is my favorite branch."

'Some tense moments' for Hawaii squadron commander; hillside home threatened by fire

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

HAWAII – A brush fire threatened homes in Wailuku Heights, waking residents who trained garden hoses on their houses. The 60-acre brush fire continued through the night, but no injuries or damage was reported. One of the homes threatened belonged to Civil Air Patrol Maui Composite Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Randal Leval, who said he was having a midnight snack at Denny's in Kahului with CAP members when his wife called, frantically saying the flames were higher than their neighbor's house. Several CAP members rushed to Leval's home to help him fight the fire. "There were some tense moments," he said. "We could see the embers flying up in the air over us." Read more about the ordeal in The Maui News.

Civil Air Patrol recruiting new members of all ages

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

ARIZONA – Civil Air Patrol’s Yuma Composite Squadron 508 is looking for new airplane enthusiasts to bolster their ranks. CAP serves from coast to coast as the congressionally sanctioned civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. The local unit, one of 25 squadrons in CAP’s Arizona Wing, is seeking cadets ages 12-18 and senior members of adult age to volunteer to serve the community. “The more the better,” said Yuma Composite Squadron 508 Capt. Marilee Taylor, who also serves as the wing’s director of cadet programs and drug demand reduction administrator. “We are working at increasing the membership, not just in our area but throughout the nation.”

'Hurricane Bubba' sweeps through S.C.'s Upstate area

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

SOUTH CAROLINA – A weekend Civil Air Patrol drill for about 60 South Carolina Wing members involved the fake “Hurricane Bubba” and included several Cessna 172s and 182s from throughout the state. The CAP planes flew Saturday over several major roads in the Upstate, as they would have if Hurricane Bubba had been real, looking for traffic backups to aid in an evacuation. Pilots also assisted other emergency responders with visual information. “If the real thing came, we’d be well prepared,” said Col. Emerson Smith, the wing’s public affairs director, who is a former commander of the South Carolina Wing.

S.D. CAP trains for search and rescue missions

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

SOUTH DAKOTA -- Members of CAP’s South Dakota Wing conducted a search and rescue training exercise on Saturday at Aberdeen Regional Airport. One air crew shot aerial photos of Brown and Day County lakes to help county officials compare water levels to earlier this spring, when the crew took similar photos. "We immediately responded to the need to help figure out what emergency management, National Guard, the state of South Dakota and others needed to do to try to either stem the flood or assist the homeowners that were getting inundated out of the blue," said Capt. Todd Epp, the wing’s public affairs officer. Another three air crews and a ground crew searched for an emergency locator transmitter, which allows aircraft and hikers to be found in emergency situations, Epp said.

Copter crash site found by Ga. Civil Air Patrol; no survivors in wreckage

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

GEORGIA – The Civil Air Patrol has found the body of a Palm Beach County businessman at the crash site of his helicopter in Georgia. Dead at the scene were Adam Reeves, 45, and a passenger whose name was not released. The helicopter was found in a heavily wooded area of the northern Georgia mountains around 2:30 p.m. Friday, said Maj. Paige Joyner, spokeswoman for the Georgia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.

Search for missing Palm Beach County copter pilot continues in northern Ga.

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

GEORGIA – Civil Air Patrol resumed its search this morning for the missing helicopter of a Jupiter businessman, its pilot and passenger. Maj. Paige Joyner, spokeswoman for the Georgia Wing of Civil Air Patrol, said at first light scouts would resume scouring areas north of Atlanta, between Madison and Gainesville, Ga., based on reports from people who might have heard or seen Reeves' chopper. As nightfall approached Thursday, the search was suspended.

AFA names CAP squadrons to receive outstanding cadet awards

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

VIRGINIA -- The Air Force Association in Arlington announces 2010 awards for outstanding cadets from Civil Air Patrol squadrons, ROTC detachments and Junior ROTC high school units across the nation. Each squadron/detachment selected by AFA chooses their outstanding cadet of the year and presents the AFA award to that cadet. Cadets receive a medal, a ribbon and a certificate from AFA. Often, a representative from their local AFA chapter is able to participate in the presentation ceremony. Read more about the awards on the AFA website. Once there, click on the blue letters “Civil Air Patrol” to see which CAP squadrons were chosen to receive 2010 awards for their outstanding cadets.

Ga. search for overdue helicopter suspended for night

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

GEORGIA – Civil Air Patrol search planes spent several hours late Wednesday scouring hundreds of square miles along a 70-mile corridor of Georgia for a helicopter with one or two aboard that left the North Palm Beach County, Fla., airport Monday, authorities said. The chopper was expected to arrive at 5 p.m. Monday at the helipad at the Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa in Young Harris, Ga., about 90 miles from Atlanta, resort general manager Charles Burton said.

Civil Air Patrol confirms oil harder to find along Gulf Coast

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

MISSISSIPPI – Kendis Gibson, a correspondent for CBS News, reports that oil is becoming harder to find along the Gulf Coast. Reporting from Ocean Springs, Miss., Gibson flew with an aircrew from CAP’s Georgia Wing, which was working last Friday along the Mississippi coast. He interviewed Lt. Col. Al Van Lenge of the Georgia Wing, who has piloted about a dozen flights as part of CAP’s response to the Deepwater Horizon spill. Click here to see video of Gibson's report.

Tuskegee Airman inspires S.C. CAP cadets

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

SOUTH CAROLINA -- A group of Civil Air Patrol members recently got the chance to meet a documented Tuskegee Airman and hear how his dreams of being a pilot took flight despite the racial obstacles of his day. The three CAP cadets and five senior members traveled to Walterboro last week for a Leadership Mentoring/Aerospace Education Day, where they met Lt. Col. Hiram Mann, one of the United States' first black military airmen.

Ind. CAP members update training at 3-day SAREX