GrayRamus

I am 24 years old and very interested in pursuing my PPL, along with instrument and commercial ratings eventually. Right now, money is definitely an issue and I have been looking into CAP.

I've always wanted to fly ever since I was a child, but I have chosen a different career (I am currently in dental school). Eventually, I want to fly regularly, but I also want to fly with a reason/purpose (such as CAP missions, Christian medical/dental missions, medical/dental disaster relief, etc.), and I have been looking really seriously at the CAP. Is it true that CAP is a good way to get inexpensive training? (Note, I am also very serious about serving regularly once I have the hours - I'd like to use flying, even single engines, as my way to serve God and country).

Thanks in advance for any advice!

ryan1234

CAP is good for flight training if you are a cadet. If you are a SM (which at 24 you would be) it usually isn't an option officially. Usually there are instructors around somewhere to help you, and technically you can use the CAP aircraft for the price of fuel only, actually getting anywhere you'd need to jump through about 967 hoops and it would take about a year. The bottom line is that you can build up some hours but it will be difficult if not impossible to secure a license via CAP. I was in CAP for several years as a cadet and they paid for me to get through my solo when I was 16 through a National Flight Academy... but again this was as a cadet, not SM.
The more you get involved in CAP, the more you'll feel like you're wasting your time...and you'll feel that if you spent the same amount of time working, making money you could have already paid for it yourself. Generally it's old guys or obnoxious ROTC kids who spend meetings talking about back in '44 fighting the Germans. There are a lot of good stories around most CAP hangars and they do real search and rescue missions and it is good for building some time after you get your license. Don't expect to get a PPL from joining. If you were younger it may have been more of a benefit.

-as a side note if you want to do Christian/medical/that whole jazz, it would be wise to get an A&P... as most places will require that with a commercial.

shaggieshapiro

Ryan hit the nail on the head. In my opinion, from my 8 years of observing the CAP in the Northeast region it is not an option for a single male, your age. The people that are in the CAP are all adults who have been flying for years and use it as a way to fly for free. In 8 years I haven't seen any cadets flying. I tried to look at that avenue and was told by many people that it isn't an option. Don't let this discourage you, however. Try seeing if there are any mentoring programs in your area.

The people who love to fly will have no problem teaching other people to fly

GrayRamus

Wow, thanks for the quick replies. It sounds like CAP may not be exactly what I thought it was (at least for a latecomer like me).

Shaggieshappiro, you mentioned trying to find a mentoring program..is there any specific resource you would recommend, or should I just contact local flight instructors out of the yellow pages? (I live in the metro Detroit area)

Guys, thanks again for your help.

MikeB525

I've been in CAP for 10 years both as a cadet and senior member. Overall I really like the organization's mission and intent, although there are the usual frustrations with certain types of people.

Per CAP regs primary flight training is for cadets only. Senior members may flight train in CAP aircraft only toward advanced ratings and two members of my squadron are doing just that (instrument). I attended a Wing flight encampment when I was 16 and soloed. I continued to train as a CAP cadet until my volunteer instructor (a CAL 777 FO) injured his leg playing sports. I finished through a civilian school.

CAP's congressionally assigned missions are the cadet program, emergency service, homeland security assistance, and aerospace education. For senior members we have our own objectives: running the cadet program, professional leadership development, and qualification in emergency services. As for membership unfortunately many of them are silver haired, but we do have alot "normal" aged folks and younger guys like me (23).

Once I have my medical back I plan to finish commercial and CFI in the CAP aircraft. Qualified members can use the aircraft on "pilot proficiency" flights at $70/hr for a high end C172 (dual VOR, DME, ADF, GPS, everything works). I'm planning to be a CFI specifically to help CAP and especially get cadets in the air.

My unit makes a strong effort to give the cadets the best overall program possible. We also do alot more than flying. Emergency services encompasses air, ground, and mission management. Just yesterday we did a great plane crash scenario with the local fire/police/ems/oem. Our cadets also do model rocketry and orientation flights on military aircraft. We're probably one of the top squadrons in the state.

Overall I've had some amazing (and amazingly bad) experiences in CAP. I've met incredible people and total a$$es. I'll probably be in for life.

jsfBoat

We have a CAP unit on my field who does SAR, but I wasn't impressed when I visited them.

Cubdriver

We had a thread Civil Air Patrol as a way to obtain economical flight training and do hour building some months ago. I tried to find it using the APC search engine, but apparently the engine has not been re-indexed to any of the subforums such as Flight Training since the move to the new server. Anyway there are complete threads dealing with this topic in the APC database if you can find them.

shaggieshapiro

You can look in the AOPA magazine as a resource for finding some mentoring programs. Also, try visiting some corporate flight depts. and trying to make friends with some of the pilots. There are some corporate pilots who hold a CFI. Just do your homework and don't get discouraged.
You can also look at some of your local colleges. They have flying programs that go towards a bachelors degree and it's great, because you can get financial aid. I hope this helps.

astec

I almost got into the CAP, but I dont know, I'm not even sure about the amount you fly or whatever?

Blackwing

"Yeah that" to what the others have said; CAP isn't in the flight training business for adults, though doing your advanced ratings through CAP (after you've been a member for at least a year) can save you some dough. I did my instrument and commercial tickets and most of my pre-commercial timebuilding through CAP, the vast majority of it at my expense.

Yeah, there's red tape and you have to wear a uniform, but where else can you rent a brand new G1000-equipped 182 for $80/hr wet? Just don't look to CAP as a source of free flight time.