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Washington Wing

Civil Air Patrol

United States Air Force Auxiliary 

Mission Observer

Prep Course 
 
 

The information in this manual is compiled from multiple sources to include the CA Wing Observer Course, the National HQ In-flight Guide, and the National HQ Aircrew Textbook. 
 
 
 

Mission Observer Preparation Course 

Introduction and Purpose 

Welcome to the Washington Wing Civil Air Patrol Basic Aircrew School.  This prep course is designed to help you become better prepared to endure the riggers of the Basic Aircrew School. 

The Mission Observer is a vital member of the Aircrew Team.  You are a member of a team that is at the “Tip of the spear” in CAP.  Your team mates are: Mission Pilot (the PIC or Pilot in Command), Mission Scanner, and Aerial Photographer.  As an Observer you make it possible for the pilot to focus on flying the aircraft safely and accurately by assuming many of the duties and workload of navigation and radio communication as well as maintaining the flight log.  You also make it possible for the scanners to focus on visual search and the aerial photographer to focus on taking the picture.  The observer also serves in a limited role as a scanner.  *Note: When flying on a two person aircrew the observer serves more as a scanner once you are actually in the grid.  In the two person aircrew the pilot will take on more of the navigational duties.  However, your skill and knowledge with the GPS can set the pilot up for success prior to entering the grid. 

Prerequisites to attend the WA Wing Basic Aircrew School

• Current CAP Member
• GES Qualified
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Hold a CAPF76 (ROA Card)
• Have certification of First Aid Training
• Be rated as a Scanner and complete all the requirements set forth by the SQTR for Mission Observer or Graduate from the National Mission Aircrew School or the Wing Basic Aircrew School

 

References

• CAPR 60-1 (Flight Management)
• CAPR 60-3 (Emergency Services Training and Operational Missions)
• CAPR 60-4 (CAP Emergency Services Mission Forms)
• CAPR 35-6 (Aeronautical Ratings)
• National Mission Aircrew Text
• CAP In-flight guide
• National Aircrew Task Guide
• WA Wing Practical Test Standards for Aircrew Members
• AC 61-23 (FAA Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge)

 

Questions

• What are the Prerequisites to be rated as an Observer?

 

Observer Duties and Responsibilities

Your job as an observer is to take the workload off of the pilot (you are not just a dude with a set of eyeballs).  A short breakdown of responsibilities follows:

• Report w/mission pilot to briefing
• Flight Plan a route to the sortie objective and recommend magnetic course heading to the mission pilot
• Set up and operate the CAP Radio
• Set up and operate the GPS Navigation system
• Set up and operate the VOR and ADF radios
• Set up and assist in operating the ATC radios
• Monitor and operate electronic DF search equipment
• Coordinate Scanner Assignments (this especially comes into play when flying in the C206)
• Maintain Flight Log – This is best facilitated with use of the WAWINGForms1AC to 9AC
• Complete back of CAPF104 or ICS 220 and report to debrief at AirOps

 
 

WA Wing Aircraft

There are currently 12 * aircraft in WA Wing available for Search, HLS, CD, and DR sorties.  The break down as follows:

• 7xC182
• 2xC206
• 1xTU206 (a C206 with a turbo engine)
• 1xC182RG (C182 with retractable landing gear)
• 1xMT7 MAULE
• * Note: Fire Mountain Composite Squadron owns a C150 with L-Tronics DF gear and CAP Radio.  This is not a CAP corporate aircraft.

 

All aircraft are equipped with DF gear.  One C182, and the MAULE have the Becker SAR/DF gear.  All other aircraft have the L-Tronics DF gear. 

Observer Log

The observer is responsible for maintaining the log of the flight.  There are 10 different observer log forms that will assist you in your efforts.  These are the WAWINGForms1AC to 9AC.  On each sortie it is recommended that you use a 7AC and a 9AC.  As well as one of the other forms depending on the type of sortie. 

• 1AC – Used for Parallel Line (grid searches), and Contour Searches

(Example 1AC)

• 2AC – Used for Route Searches and Transport Sorties
• 3AC – Used for Photo Recon Sorties of a single target
• 3AC Continuation – Used for Photo Recon Sorties with multiple targets
• 4AC – Used for ELT missions
• 5AC – Used for Creeping Line Sorties
• 6AC – Used for Hi-Bird Operations

(Example 6AC)

• 7AC – Communication Card

(Example 7AC)

• 8AC – Used for Expanding Square Searches
• 9AC – Used for Flight Planning and in-flight log

(Example 9AC) 

The log is vital.  It is the link between the aircrew and the IC.  It is in many ways the most critical portion of the mission.  A good technique is to staple your 1AC to the CAPF104 or ICS220.  It will “paint a picture” for the IC during the de-brief.  Remember it is better to log too much information than not enough.  It must be maintained as you go along on the sortie.  The above photo is of the 1AC.  Each log is tailored to meet its specific purpose.  Normally you will use a 7AC and 9AC with each sortie and one additional form depending on the type of sortie being flown. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The TDFM-136 CAP FM radio is currently only on one WA Wing Aircraft (CAPF4692 – the new C182) 
 
 
 
 
 
 

      practice on. 
 

      DF Operations

      You will be provided several checklists on how to operate both the L-Tronics DF gear and the new Becker SAR DF.  Critical to your success is to actually follow the checklists. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Normal DF Search Procedures 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Glossary for the Observer 

• ADF – Automatic Direction Finding – Navigation radio used in conjunction with a NDB (1^st Generation radio navigation) – The needle always points to the NDB

 

• AFD – Airport Facilities Directory – Contains all of the information you will need regarding navigation and radio frequencies – Lists all of the airports in WA State that we are authorized to land at

 

• CD – Counter Drug

 

• CAP Pilot – Holds an FAA rating of atleast a private pilot and has passed a CAPF5 check ride – Is not a mission pilot

 

• DF – Direction Finding – electronic gear on the aircraft used to find ELT

 

• DME – Distance Measuring Equipment – Used in conjunction with VOR radio measure slant range from aircraft to the VOR

 

• DR – Disaster Relief

 

• ELT – Emergency Locator Transmitter – Beacon mounted on aircraft that when activated emits a pulsing signal on frequencies of 121.5, or 243, or 406 

 

• GES – General Emergency Services – First rating a member of CAP receives – basically allows you to go to a mission base and help on the ground where needed

 

• GPS – Global Positioning Satellite

 

• HLS – Home Land Security

 

• IC – Incident Commander

 

• ICS – Chain of command system used by all Emergency Services agencies (Fire/Police etc)

 

• ICS Forms – Standard Forms under ICS (The two you will probably use the most often will be the ICS211 and the ICS220)

 

• Mission – A particular CAP objective – made of sorties – could be a single sortie or hundreds of sorties

 

• Mission Pilot – Holds at-least a FAA private pilot license and has passed a CAPF91 Check ride (as well as all the training required to take the check ride)

 

• NDB – Non-Directional Beacon – As the name implies the radio signal goes out in all directions – It is what the ADF homes in on

 

• REDCAP – Real World Search Mission

 

• Sortie – Individual aircraft on a mission

 

• SAREX – Search And Rescue Exercise

 

• VOR – Very high frequency Omni-directional Range – Primary means of radio navigation until the advent of GPS