Search Pilot

1

• Search Pilot
• Qualification Course
• Civil Air Patrol
• Auxiliary of the United States Air Force

2
Dedication

• Mountain Fury is dedicated to all the men and
  women of the Civil Air Patrol who have given
  their lives so that others may live

3
Course Objectives

• Instruct Civil Air Patrol pilots to fly safely in
  mountainous terrain

Instruct Civil Air Patrol Mission Pilots to
safely and effectively search in mountainous
terrain
4
Course Background

• Specific skills are required to safely and
  effectively conduct mountain flight operations

• The Civil Air Patrol frequently conducts flight
  operations in
• mountainous terrain

• CAP pilots require academic and flight training
  in mountain
• flight operations

• The Mountain Fury Process Action Team was
  convened from
• experts nationwide to develop CAP mountain
  search course,
• training requirements, and associated
  regulations

• CAP HQ adopted course and associated regulatory
  changes

5
Process Action Team
Civilian Members Mr. Sparky Imeson Dr. John T.
Lowry
Civil Air Patrol Members Major Dave Widrig Major
Bob Wright Captain Steve Philipson Captain Bill
Cummings
Air Force Members Major Mark Thompson Major Kevin
Darroch
6
Course Content

• Academic Blocks of Instruction
• High Altitude Flying
• Mountain Weather
• Mountain Flying
• Mountain Searching
• Written Examination
• Flight Training
• Support Materials
• Recurrency Training

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High Altitude Flying

• Pressure altitude
• Density altitude
• Predicting density altitude
• Aircraft performance
• Maximum safe operating altitude
• Aircraft maneuvering
• Physiological effects of altitude
• Personal equipment

8
Mountain Weather

• Slopes
• Wind
• Turbulence
• Standing Wave
• Clouds
• Ceilings
• Visibility
• Thunderstorms
• Weather forecasts

9
Mountain Flying

• Flying with Mountain Winds
• Exiting Downdrafts
• Crossing ridges
• Canyon Flying
• Sensory illusions
• Mountain Airport Operations
• Night flying
• Mountain Flying Safety

10
Mountain Searching

• Route and ELT searching
• Grid navigation
• Search strategies
• Contour searching
• Steep valley searching
• Effects of lighting
• Actions upon target location
• Crew consideration

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Written Examination

• 40 multiple-choice questions
• Closed-book exam
• Covers all material presented in ground school
• Charts needed for reference will be provided
• Seventy-percent passing score
• Successful completion required prior to flying
  phase

12
Flight Training

• Discover how aircraft performance changes with
  altitude
• Learn techniques of mountain flying
• Learn techniques of mountain search flying
• Designed to be accomplished in four sorties
• Specific but flexible training syllabus
• Flown under the supervision of a Mentor Pilot
• Grade sheets annotated following each flight
• Concluded with Form 91 checkride

13
Support Materials

• Ground school training presentation
• Written test
• Videotape
• Course guide
• Briefing guide
• Flight training syllabus
• Applicable regulations

14
Recurrency Training

• Recurrency Training
• Required every two years not involving refresher
  training
• Review instructional material
• Satisfactorily complete written examination
• Satisfactorily complete Form 91 flight evaluation
• Refresher/Reinstatement Training
• Required every four years
• Attend academic training
• Satisfactorily complete written examination
• Satisfactorily complete Form 91 flight evaluation

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Definition Mountain Flying

• For the purpose of this course, mountain flying
  constitutes flying and searching in close
  proximity to precipitous terrain

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Pre-Flight Preparation

• Accurate weight and balance
• Weather
• Current and forecast weather at departure and
  destination airports
• Current and forecast weather, winds and
  temperature aloft
• Density altitude at departure airport and
  operating altitudes
• Aircraft performance data
• Takeoff and landing distance
• Best rate and angle of climb speeds at takeoff
  and operating altitudes
• Maximum safe search altitude, stall speed, turn
  radius, etc.
• Thorough preparation is crucial for safe and
  effective mountain flying

17
Safety First !

• Safety of flight operations in high altitude and
  mountain operations is paramount
• To achieve this goal, a CAP mission pilot must
  know where and when to fly (and not to fly)
• Consider density altitude, weather, terrain,
  aircraft performance, and the physiological
  limits of the crew before and during each flight
• And always WATCH YOUR AIRSPEED!