Pilot Onboarding

Welcome to the Civil Air Patrol Pilot Onboarding Program! Whether you’re training to be a CAP VFR Pilot, CAP Glider Pilot, or CAP Balloon Pilot, this onboarding process will guide you through the essential steps to become qualified and mission-ready within CAP.

This page provides an overview of the onboarding process, helping you understand the flow of the process and introducing you to the key resources you will need. Detailed guidance will be available through various CAP publications, and mentorship to support you throughout your journey.

What to Expect During Pilot Onboarding

1. Membership and Application:

   • Start by joining CAP, which includes completing the membership application, background checks, and setting up your CAP email and eServices accounts. Click here for more information on Joining CAP.

2. Initial Membership Training, Professional Development and Mentorship:

   • Before starting the Pilot Onboarding process, it is necessary that you complete Level 1 of CAP’s Professional Development program for senior members. This initial training introduces you to CAP’s values, structure, and expectations as a new member.

   • Through completing your Professional Development content, you will engage with the CAP eLearning Platform. In addition to your professional development content, you will also find many highly pertinent courses that cover a variety of topics, including a dedicated CAP Pilot Onboarding Curriculum.

   • In this stage, it would also be helpful to find a Pilot Onboarding Mentor which might be different than your Membership Mentor. Pilot Onboarding Mentors are an invaluable resource to help you navigate this process and its many steps.

3. Document and FAA Certificate Validation:

   • After completing Level 1 training, you will need to upload required documents into the Ops Quals section of eServices. These documents include your pilot certificates, medical certificate, and other endorsements and qualifications. Document validation is a crucial step to ensure your records are up-to-date and aligned with CAP’s requirements before moving forward with your flight training.

   • Your mentor can assist in navigating the document validation process, ensuring all materials are uploaded correctly to Ops Quals. There is also expanded guidance on this process included in CAPP 70-12, Pilot Onboarding Process, which can be found on the CAP Publication Library.

4. Flight Training and Certification:

   • As part of your onboarding, you will work with a CAP Instructor Pilot to complete the required ground and flight training. This includes familiarization with CAP’s operational procedures, aircraft systems, and mission-specific requirements. During this phase, you will have the opportunity to sharpen your skills and ensure your proficiency aligns with CAP's standards, which are outlined in the 71-series CAP Standards. These standards provide detailed guidance on training and evaluation expectations for powered, glider, and balloon pilots.

   • After completing your onboarding ground and flight training, you will schedule a CAP Pilot Flight Evaluation (Form 5) with a CAP Check Pilot. This evaluation is designed to assess your flight proficiency, adherence to safety protocols, and overall readiness to serve as a CAP VFR Pilot, CAP Glider Pilot, or CAP Balloon Pilot.

   • The Form 5 evaluation is an important milestone in your CAP pilot journey, ensuring that all pilots meet CAP's rigorous safety and operational standards before participating in missions or becoming an Orientation Pilot.

5. Mission Qualifications:

   • If you are interested in participating in CAPs Emergency Services missions, you will need to pursue additional qualifications beyond the Form 5. These include roles like Transport Mission Pilot (TMP) and Mission Pilot (MP), both of which are vital for CAP’s operational missions, such as search and rescue, disaster relief, and emergency services support.

   • Both of these qualifications require prior qualifications in General Emergency Services (GES), Introductory Communications User Training (ICUT), certain FEMA Courses, and other mission qualifications such as Mission Observer or Mission Scanner. These qualifications help build the necessary skills and knowledge for participating in complex CAP missions.

   • It’s important to note that you do not need to complete your Form 5 before pursuing certain emergency services (ES) qualifications. For example, you can work toward qualifications like GES, ICUT, Mission Observer, or Mission Scanner in parallel with your pilot onboarding, or even after you’ve completed your Form 5. The flexibility of the CAP training system allows you to choose the path that best fits your individual capacity and timeline.

Key Resources

• CAPR 70-1, CAP Flight Management: Outlines CAP’s flight management regulations, pilot qualifications, and aircrew responsibilities.

• CAP Standards: The CAPS 71-series, 72-series, and 73-series establish standards for training, evaluation, and operational procedures. These standards ensure consistency and safety in CAP aviation operations.

• CAP Forms: CAPF 70-5 (A/B/G) is the CAP Pilot Flight Evaluation form for Airplanes, Gliders and Balloons. There is a corresponding CAPF 70-5Q which is the blank questionnaire form required as part of the Form 5 process.

• CAPP 60-40, Cadet Orientation Flight Program: This pamphlet provides guidance on how to conduct cadet orientation flights, covering safety protocols, planning, and executing cadet flights.

• eServices and Ops Quals: These systems will be used to upload your documents, track progress, and manage qualifications.

• CAP Pilot Mentorship Program: Connect with experienced CAP members who can guide you through each step of the onboarding process.