Perhaps best known for its search-and-rescue efforts, CAP aircrew and ground teams execute more than 85 percent of all federal inland search-and-rescue missions directed by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fl. Outside the continental United States, CAP supports the Joint Rescue Coordination Centers in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Just how effective are the CAP missions? Nearly 100 people are saved each year by CAP members!
Another important service CAP performs is disaster-relief operations. CAP provides air and ground transportation and an extensive communications network. Volunteer members fly disaster-relief officials to remote locations and provide manpower and leadership to local, state and national disaster-relief organizations. CAP has formal agreements with many government and humanitarian relief agencies including the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Coast Guard.
On 9/11, Civil Air Patrol aircraft were the first civilian aircraft permitted to fly in order to provide vital aerial reconnaissance of critical facilities and the disasters in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Today, CAP performs routine missions to assess critical vulnerabilities, assist in Air Force Air Defense Training, and air support to security efforts for major events. CAP executes many of these missions as tasked by by the Air Force's 1st Air Force (Air Force North) in conjunction with state or federal requirements.
CAP flies humanitarian missions-usually in support of the Red Cross-transporting time-sensitive medical materials including blood and human tissue, in situations where other means of transportation are not available.
It's hardly surprising that CAP performs several missions in direct support of the U.S. Air Force. Specifically, CAP conducts light transport, communications support, and low-altitude route surveys. CAP also provides orientation flights for AFROTC cadets. Joint U.S. Air Force and CAP search-and-rescue exercises provide realistic training for missions.