Qualification Details

Technician

  • includes Cadets of any age

  • must complete the NESA sUAS Technician Course (or CAP/DO, DOU approved equivalent)

  • Technician Course includes topics similar to Aerial Photographer, Mission Scanner and Mission Observer

  • can fly a sUAS with a qualified CAP sUAS Pilot

Recreational Pilot (aka Demonstration Pilot)

  • includes Cadets of any age

  • a CAP sUAS pilot who is qualified and authorized to conduct Demonstration Flights for CAP cadets

  • must complete a training program that meets the requirements of the AMA and FAA rules for recreational operations

  • all CAP sUAS Pilots must complete an annual Form 5U flight evaluation from an approved sUAS Check Pilot

  • Recreational flights may be conducted by a CAP sUAS Recreational Pilot under the requirements of FAA rules for recreational operations

  • night flight, non-VFR, and Beyond Visual Line of Sight flights are prohibited for recreational flights, regardless of existing waivers, for CAP operations, in effect from the FAA

Mission Pilot

  • includes Cadets 16 years old and over (age requirement for FAA part 107)

  • must possess a current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

  • all CAP sUAS Pilots must complete an annual Form 5U flight evaluation from an approved sUAS Check Pilot

  • must complete the NESA sUAS Pilot Course (or CAP/DO, DOU approved equivalent)

  • must complete a biennial Form 91U mission flight evaluation from an approved sUAS Check Pilot

  • remain proficient and current, a sUAS Mission Pilot must have accumulated a minimum of 0.3 hours as PIC (Pilot in Command) within the last 90 days

Instructor Pilot

  • must possess a current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

  • be current and qualified in accordance CAP regulations for the sUAS aircraft to be used for flight instruction

  • successfully pass a Form 5U with an endorsement for CAP sUAS Instructor Pilot privileges in the past 12 calendar months

  • be designated as a CAP sUAS Instructor Pilot by the Wing or Region Commander, CAP/DO, or their designee

  • has ability to instruct sUAS Pilots and Technicians and sign-off tasks

  • time logged as an Instructor Pilot may be logged as PIC time

Check Pilot

  • must meet current requirements for Instructor Pilot

  • successfully pass a Form 5U with an endorsement for CAP sUAS Check Pilot privileges in the past 12 calendar months

  • be designated as a CAP sUAS Check Pilot by the Wing or Region Commander, CAP/DO, or their designee

  • successfully pass the online National Check Pilot Standardization Course (sUAS) (NCPSC)

  • has accumulated at least 15 hours as a sUAS PIC

  • has ability to evaluate sUAS Pilots for Form 5U and Form 91u

Check Pilot Examiner

  • must meet current requirements for Check Pilot

  • successfully pass a Form 5U with an endorsement for CAP sUAS Check Pilot Examiner privileges in the past 12 calendar months

  • be designated as a CAP sUAS Check Pilot Examiner by the Wing or Region Commander, CAP/DO, or their designee

  • has accumulated at least 20 hours as a sUAS PIC

  • has ability to evaluate sUAS Check Pilots for F5U and F91u

Flight Release Officer (FRO)

  • must have sUAS flying experience either as a sUAS Mission Pilot or as an sUAS Technician. sUAS experience may be either internal or external to CAP

  • FROs do not have to be current to fly within CAP

  • pass the online CAP FRO training course every four years or as updated by NHQ

  • be designated as a CAP sUAS Flight Release Officer by the Wing or Region Commander, CAP/DO, or their designee

  • has ability to release sUAS flights (or Sorties that may contain more than one flight)