Virtual Classroom available now for sUAS Technician (UAST) and sUAS Mission Pilot (UASMP)
A quote from CAP National Headquarters - sUAS Program Updates:
"This program is in constant flux and change – please be flexible. Airframes, techniques, and procedures will change as we learn and find best practices."
Latest sUAS Programmatic Updates 1 Jun 21
Drones Working Group at ATARC: Civil Air Patrol Presentation - A 30-minute presentation from Austin "Sauce" Worcester, Senior Program Manager, Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters on running the Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) program, used for Search and Rescue and Disaster Relief Operations. Feb 10, 2022
Where do I get information about the sUAS Program?
Right here on this website. This website is to help guide you in an organized way to the most current information we have for the CAP sUAS (small Unmanned Aircraft System) Program.
Disclaimer: Changes are happening quickly so always refer to the source of CAP sUAS Operations information. If you notice something on this site that needs to be changed, added or deleted please use this Feedback Form.
What is the sUAS Program?
sUAS teams can be used to obtain specific and detailed orthomosaic or still imagery from altitudes not permissible for traditional fixed wing sorties. sUAS and their various sensors can be used to evaluate areas inaccessible to ground teams, search high probability areas, verify fixed wing sightings, and map areas.
The data objective for a mission could be photos, live video, mapping for GIS, or thermal imagery using IR (infrared) cameras.
The biggest sUAS missions, from an operational standpoint, are producing orthomosaic and georeferenced images for customers, predominately FEMA, pre and post event. CAP is looking at developing an IR capability.
CAP will continue to support the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Program during their deployments.
As of Nov 2019 CAP has over 1,550 FAA registered sUAS airframes.
CAP is by far the largest civilian owner/operator of public safety sUAS in the nation.
How do we use sUAS for missions?
The sUAS Program uses rotary wing, complex rotary wing and fixed wing type airframes to accomplish various types of flights including Search and Rescue, Orientation or Demonstration, Disaster Relief or Damage Assessment, Airborne Photography, Counter-UAS and Proficiency flights.
Why are we using this website?
To organize all the available sUAS Program information in one place and take advantage of all the MI Wing Google Workspace tools in order to get the MI Wing sUAS Program Fully Operational as soon as possible. From NHQ, "For a Region or Wing to be declared as having its Initial Operational Capacity (IOC) for Emergency Services (ES) missions, it must have 5 fully qualified sUAS Teams. For a Region or Wing to be declared as having Full Operational Capacity (FOC), it must have ten (10) such teams." Note: A sUAS team consists of at least (1) Qualified sUAS Mission Pilot and (1) Qualified sUAS Technician.
Who can get involved with the sUAS Program?
Any CAP member can:
get experience with remote control flying using STEM Quadcopter or fixed wing aircraft
be eligible, when at least 16 years old, for a FAA part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
Any CAP member can become a CAP qualified sUAS:
Technician
Recreational Pilot with remote control flying experience as a Recreational Flyer (FAA link)
a check ride evaluation (Form 5u) is required to fly (non-STEM) CAP sUAS aircraft
Mission Pilot with FAA part 107 certificate
Instructor Pilot with FAA part 107 certificate
Check Pilot with Instructor Pilot endorsement
Check Pilot Examiner with Check Pilot endorsement
Flight Release Officer with sUAS experience
When can I get started?
Now! A learning opportunity is available online anytime you're ready using Google Classroom in Michigan Wing's Google Workspace account. Classroom is online and self-paced, you keep track of your own progress right in the Classroom. We plan to schedule times when students can meet with a teacher (mentor or instructor) using Google Calendar and Google Meet right in the Classroom as well as schedule times for in-person evaluations as needed or required.