CAP Pilot Career Path and Requirements

CAP Pilot Career Path and Requirements

So you want to be a CAP Pilot?  Whether you are a seasoned ATP legacy carrier Captain with 20,000hrs or a newly minted FAA Private Pilot you will need to fulfill a number of steps to earn your CAP Wings and be able to fly CAP aircraft in missions.

If you ask around about how to become a CAP Pilot, some CAP members will point you to the CAP National Website - Pilot Onboarding or send you to read CAPP 70-12 - Pilot Onboarding.  These are excellent resources, and you should read them to fully understand the process and requirements.  However, we at Squadron 5 wanted to make the list of requirements and tasks a bit more palatable and easier to understand which led to the creation of this page.

You'll note that there are different type of CAP Pilots; each with increasing experience and training requirements that match the current missions they are authorized to fly.

One final note, we encourage all CAP Pilots to gain the experience and training to be able to perform Cadet O-Rides, it is the single most important aerial mission here in Group 3 and not enough of our pilots can get all of our cadets flown.  Remember, each cadet is guaranteed 5 o-rides during their time as a cadet and unlimited rides in the back seat.  That's a lot of flights!

CAP PILOT - PREREQUISITES

• Current CAP member age 18 or older
• Must be CURRENT FAA Private Pilot or higher
• Have a current FAA Medical Certificate or Basic Medical
• Complete Level I of senior member professional development program (AXIS)
• Complete Aircraft Ground Handling (AXIS)
• Complete CAP Aircrew Professionalism course (AXIS)
• Complete CAPT 116 General ES (AXIS)

FORM 5 (CAP CHECKRIDE) ELIGIBILITY

• Min of 2 to 4 hours of flight training with a CAP INSTRUCTOR PILOT in the aircraft you are going to be checked out in. These will be self-funded flights (C-Mission)
• Pass the online CAPR 70-1 General Exam (AXIS) within 60 days prior to the date of Form 5
• Pass the online CAPR 70-1 Powered Exam (AXIS) within 60 days prior to the date of Form 5
• Complete the Aircraft Questionnaire (CAPFs 70-5Q-A) for the make and model of CAP aircraft in which you are being evaluated
• Day of Form 5 - Provide evidence of meeting requirements to the CAP Check Pilot, to include:
  • FAA Pilot and medical certificates
  • Logbook showing Current Flight Review
  • Active CAP membership card
  • Completed Aircraft Questionnaire (eServices ADMIN/Forms, Publications & Regulations)
  • Proof of Passing 70-1 General and Powered Exams (AXIS)
  • 2 Copies of the Form 70-5A, Pilot Evaluation Airplane (eServices ADMIN/Forms, Publications & Regulations)

• *To operate as PIC in a CAP aircraft, a member must pass a Form 5 in each CAP aircraft make/model that they desire to fly.
• ** High-performance aircraft endorsements: Pass the Form 5 in a high-performance airplane.
• *** G1000 endorsements: Pass the Form 5 in a G1000-equipped airplane.

CAP PILOT (Also Called CAP VFR Pilot if pilot is not Instrument Rated)

• Pilots with LESS THAN 100 hours PIC
• Min of 2 to 4 hours of flight training with a CAP INSTRUCTOR PILOT in the aircraft you are going to be checked out in. These will be self-funded flights (C-Mission)
• Pass the online CAPR 70-1 General Exam (AXIS) within 60 days prior to the date of Form 5
• Pass the online CAPR 70-1 Powered Exam (AXIS) within 60 days prior to the date of Form 5
• Complete the Aircraft Questionnaire (CAPFs 70-5Q-A) for the make and model of CAP aircraft in which you are being evaluated
• Pass Form 5 Flight Evaluation = Wear CAP Pilot Wings, Fly C-Missions

CAP TRANSPORT MISSION PILOT (TMP)

• Be a current CAP VFR Pilot
• Pilots with MORE THAN 100 hours PIC and 50 hours Cross Country (but less than 200 hours PIC)
• Complete TRANSPORT MISSION PILOT (TMP) Familiarization and Preparatory Advanced/Exercise Training (SQTR)
• Complete FEMA Training - http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp
  • Complete IS-100
  • Complete IS-700
• Pass Form 5 Flight Evaluation = Fly Transport Missions, Fly High-bird, Fly C-Missions

CAP CADET O-RIDE and TRANSPORT MISSION PILOT

• Be a current CAP Pilot
• Pilots with MORE THAN 200 hours PIC and 50 hours Cross Country (but LESS THAN 300 hours PIC)
• Complete TRANSPORT MISSION PILOT (TMP) Familiarization and Preparatory Advanced/Exercise Training (SQTR)
• Complete FEMA Training - http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp
  • Complete IS-100
  • Complete IS-700
• Have passed the NON-ROTC Orientation Pilot Endorsement Quiz (AXIS) within the past 4 years or as updated by NHQ
• Pass Form 5 Flight Evaluation = Fly Transport Missions, Fly High-bird, Fly CAP Cadet O-rides, Fly C-Missions

CAP CADET & ROTC/JROTC CADET O-RIDE & TRANSPORT MISSION PILOT

• Be a current CAP Pilot
• 21 Years of Age or older
• Pilots with MORE THAN 300 hours PIC and 50 hours Cross Country
• Complete TRANSPORT MISSION PILOT (TMP) Familiarization and Preparatory Advanced/Exercise Training (SQTR)
• Complete FEMA Training - http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp
  • Complete IS-100
  • Complete IS-700
• Have passed the NON-ROTC Orientation Pilot Endorsement Quiz (AXIS) within the past 4 years or as updated by NHQ
• Have passed the ROTC Orientation Pilot Endorsement Quiz (AXIS) within the past 4 years or as updated by NHQ
• Pass Form 5 Flight Evaluation = Fly Transport Missions, Fly High-bird, Fly CAP Cadet O-rides, Fly ROTC/JROTC Cadet O-rides, Fly C-Missions

CAP MISSION PILOT RATING (MP)

• Current FAA Private Pilot or higher with at least 200 hours PIC and 50 hours Cross Country
• Current CAP Transport Mission Pilot
• Current Mission Scanner
• ICUT (AXIS)
• CAPT 117 Emergency Services Part 2 (AXIS)
• Complete FEMA Training - http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp
  • Complete IS-200
• Complete MISSION PILOT Familiarization and Preparatory Advanced/Exercise Training (SQTR)
• PASS Form 91 Flight Evaluation = Fly CAP SAR Missions below 7500ft Density Altitude, WADS/Homeland Defense, FEMA/DR

CAP "MOUNTAIN QUALIFIED" MISSION PILOT – Certification

• Current CAP Mission Pilot
• Complete Civil Air Patrol "Mountain Fury" Course
• PASS Form 91 Flight Evaluation = Fly CAP SAR Missions above 7500ft Density Altitude, WADS/Homeland Defense, FEMA/DR

CAP "COUNTER-DRUG" MISSION PILOT - Achievement

• Current CAP Mission Pilot
• Current CAP Member 2+ Years (unless active LEO)
• Submit F83 to Maj Thomas Barbre
• Complete Counter-Drug Course (AXIS)
• National Approval = Fly CAP Counter Drug (CD) Missions