On 1 March 96 the Soaring Society of America and Civil Air Patrol signed a memorandum of agreement that has enjoyed tremendous success. The following guidance reflects updated program implementation and operational procedures.
Organizational areas of responsibility: SSA affiliate club members are the experts on glider operations and have the responsibility for operations at the gliderport. CAP members are experts on cadet operations and have the responsibility for cadet organization and behavior at the gliderport. It is essential each organization knows their strengths and responsibilities during glider operations. The CAP and SSA action officer, at the local level, will discuss and be clear on specific areas of responsibilities prior to joint operations.
Locating SSA affiliate clubs and CAP units: The following world wide web addresses will help each organization locate activities in their area.
SSA: http://acro.harvard.edu/SSA/ssasites.html
CAP: http://www.cap.af.mil/nhg/membership/unitloc.html
[1998 note: recent SSA and CAP web upgrades offer easy navigation to locator search
engines from the homepages at http://www.ssa.org and
http://www.cap.af.mil respectively]
Membership: The SSA affiliate Certificated Flight Instructor - Glider (CFIG) should become a CAP member, completing the usual fingerprinting, cadet protection, and level one training. As CAP needs members with this specialty, unit commanders should consider the appointment of a special duty officer to ensure CAP membership requirements are completed in a timely and smooth manner, with emphasis on minimum frustration for the SSA affiliate CFIG. A CAP glider check pilot will administer an initial CAPF 5G check flight IAW CAPR 60-1. If the wing does not have an active CAP glider check pilot, the CAP wing commander and the SSA state governor will coordinate the selection of a highly qualified CFIG to become a CAP Glider Check Pilot who meets the requirements in CAPR 60-1 paragraph 3-2.d. The requirement for National Check Pilot Standardization Course (NCPSC) is waived for SSA individuals who are only participating in the CAP/SSA glider program. However, if the individual continues in CAP outside the CAP/SSA program the National Check Pilot Standardization Course shall be completed as soon as possible. Under this option, SSA affiliate club gliders are considered member furnished during cadet flight encampments and orientation flights.
CAP Member Soaring Uniform: Soaring activity demands that comfortable,
loose-fitting, nonrestrictive clothing be worn. A T-shirt, such as the Demand Reduction
T-shirt or CAP designed wing T-shirt with a pair of shorts will be sufficient. HQ CAP/CP
may be able to supply a limited number of CAP Demand Reduction T-shirts for CAP CFIGs and
cadets. Contact Doug Isaacson at 334-953-7568 for details. However, the final decision, as
to uniform, rests with the region/wing commander.
[1998 note: Alas, the supply of DDR T-shirts has run out]
SSA Affiliate Club Launch Aircraft & Equipment: If aerotow is used, the tow pilot has two options. The pilot may be a fully qualified CAP member, flying either a SSA affiliate club tow plane (member furnished) or a CAP corporate owned tow plane (when available). In either case, the pilot will be afforded CAP status as well as liability and workmen compensation protection IAW CAPR 60-1. An aerotow that is not a CAP flight activity IAW CAPR 60-1 will be operating as a vendor and will be responsible for providing insurance from another source (normally provided by the affiliate club). Ground launch equipment (winch or autotow) is authorized and will be covered by the affiliate club insurance. Questions of insurance need to be discussed and agreed upon at the SSA affiliate club level or call HQ CAP/DOV.
Orientation Flights:
HQ CAP Reimbursement: $25.00 per cadet flight.
(Ground launching may be more cost effective and afford the cadet more than one tow.)
[1998 note: reimbursement is for "flights" within the meaning of CAPF 77,
syllabus completions. Because sailplane flights are highly variable in duration, a CAPF 77
"flight" (a lesson) may in practicce require less than one or more than one
take-off to landing cycle (tow, sortie)]
Reimbursement procedures: Submit a CAPF 7 directly to:
HQ CAP/CP
105 S. Hansell St.
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112
To ensure the correct reimbursement, make sure the CAPF 7 indicates "Glider Flights." Payment arrangements with the SSA affiliate club will be finalized prior to the flight activity at the CAP squadron/SSA affiliate club level. It is strongly suggested that the CAP unit pay the SSA club for their services immediately after the activity and then submit the CAPF 7 for reimbursement.
SYLLABUS: For orientation flights the cadet and SSA CFIGs should be familiar with
the CAP Form 77, Cadet Flight Orientation Program Syllabus. The CAPF 77 will be available,
from the Operations FAX BACK system (1-800-555-7902) as soon as the new revised form is
available.
[1998 note: CAPF 77 has been revised to refer to gliders and is in print]
Flight Encampments:
Courseware, Syllabus, & Flight Manuals: The CAP suggests the Soaring
Flight Manual as the standard encampment manual for ground school. Manuals from other
noted authors have been used and are certainly acceptable. As a minimum flight encampments
should plan on using the SSA Flight Log book as a syllabus and student training folder. As
the number of encampments grow we will consider CAP generated courseware. Most all of the
manuals and logbooks are available from the SSA at 505-392-1177.
[1998 note: CAP has issued draft guidelines for the National Flight Academy--Glider.
SSA merchandise is now available online at www.ssa.org + The Store]
Ground School: Flight encampment ground schools should include a minimum of 20 hours of instruction with at least 2 hours of instruction per day. Orientation flight activities should offer some type of ground training. i.e. ground flight operations, fundamentals of glider flight, etc. Questions concerning the CAP/SSA glider program may be directed to:
John W. Sharp, CAP (& Pvt.-Glider)
Chief, Standardization & Evaluation
dov@cap.af.milJohn H. Campbell, SSA (& Capt.-CAP)
Chair, Youth Sub-Committee
jhpc@hotmail.com