Civil Air Patrol CITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIES Glider Program Operations Col Jack Buschmann National Glider Program Manager CAP/DOVG

Civil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol

CITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIESCITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIES

Glider Program OperationsGlider Program Operations

Col Jack BuschmannCol Jack BuschmannNational Glider Program ManagerNational Glider Program Manager

CAP/DOVGCAP/DOVG

Briefing Overview:

• Glider Program Status

• Glider Summit 2014 Results

• Glider Program Safety

2


Glider Program Use Order of PriorityGlider Program Use Order of Priority

• Cadet Orientation “O” FlightsCadet Orientation “O” Flights

• Flight TrainingFlight Training

• Cadet Glider Flight AcademiesCadet Glider Flight Academies

• Local Cadet Flight TrainingLocal Cadet Flight Training

• Senior Member Qualification and ProficiencySenior Member Qualification and Proficiency

• Senior Member Flight TrainingSenior Member Flight Training

Glider Program Status Glider Program Status






8 Regions and 52 Wings8 Regions and 52 Wings



• There are 46 serviceable gliders in the fleet

• 28 Blanik L-23s

• 5 Schleicher ASK21s

• 1 Schweizer 2-22E

• 1 Schweizer 2-32

• 11 Schweizer 2-33s


• CAP has 3 functioning winches

• Roman - NER - Solberg Airport, NJ

• Roman - PCR - Los Alamitos, CA

• Ford - PCR - Las Vegas, NV

• There are currently 7 qualified winch operators listed in Ops Quals

• NER-NJ - 1

• PCR-CA - 4

• PCR-NV - 1

• SWR-TX - 1


• Of the 7 qualified operators:

• 3 are listed as instructors (all from CA)

• 2 are listed as check examiners (both from CA)

(Note: approximate numbers as they change daily)


• CAP has 420 glider pilots in Ops Quals

• 280 are current glider pilots

• 110 are glider instructor pilots

• 80 are glider check pilots

• 60 are glider check pilot examiners

• CAP has 210 Tow Pilots

• 30 of them are Tow Pilot Trainers

• CAP has another 170 Tow Pilot Trainees

(Note: approximate numbers as they change daily)


CAPP 52-7CAPP 52-7

• 5 Powered O-Flights5 Powered O-Flights

• 5 Glider O-Flights5 Glider O-Flights

• A Total of 10 Orientation A Total of 10 Orientation

Flights opportunities perFlights opportunities per

Cadet up to 18 Years OldCadet up to 18 Years Old













Civil Air Patrol Glider SummitCivil Air Patrol Glider SummitResultsResults

31 October 201431 October 2014

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• Continued Glider Program goals in priority order:

1. Cadet Orientation Flights

2. Cadet Flight Academies

3. Other flight training for cadets

4. Proficiency and flight evaluations for senior members supporting cadet orientation flights and flight training

5. Other senior member flight training

• Measure and track critical areas and total flying

50% #1, 25% #2 & #3, 25% All Other Glider Ops

Glider Summit 2014 ResultsGlider Summit 2014 Results

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20


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• Confirmed that various procedural operations were being utilized during winch tow operations across the country in the CAP Glider Program.

• Determined that efficiency and interoperability can be enhanced in the CAP Glider Program with standardized winch tow procedures and operations.

• In Development Now: standardized winch tow procedures and operations procedures guide.


• The glider team is continuously reviewing the Glider Program Procedures for improvements.

• Worked with the leadership team to determine how best to deliver the message; accomplished in a procedures manual.

• Retained the value of a consolidated document and ensured practical requirements.

• Made clear what is regulatory vs. optional.


• Re-assigning & re-furbishing resources that are not properly or fully utilized.

• Plans for a sustained fleet.

• Refurbish Schweizer 2-33s & 2-22E over time.

• Complete refurbishment is estimated to cost $30K.

• Plan would be to identify one glider annually into refurbishment.

• Considering procurement of used 2-33s that could be refurbishment.


• Exploring ways to expand the winch program.

• Must document the current qualified personnel it was clear that many are not properly qualified in Ops Qualified.

• Use the history built over the last year to request approval to do re-current training for winch operators as AFAMs.

• Plan for 6 to 8 personnel qualified as winch operators for each winch.

• Develop consistent procedures for all three current CAP winch operations – don’t expand program until all are in sync.


• Developed position descriptions for personnel required to support glider operations and inserted into GPPM.

• Winch Operators

• Auto Tow Operators

• Supervisor of Flying

• Glider Program Officer



Glider Program SafetyGlider Program Safety

That’s not allThat’s not all

• We are damaging We are damaging

• Canopies and hinge pinsCanopies and hinge pins

• Wing tipsWing tips

• Landing GearsLanding Gears

• Tail wheelsTail wheels

• BrakesBrakes

• Fabric and metal skinFabric and metal skin



All But One Was AvoidableAll But One Was Avoidable

• Two were short landings with instructors on boardTwo were short landings with instructors on board

• Four were failures to properly tie down or secure the Four were failures to properly tie down or secure the gliders gliders

• One was an apparent failure to follow the checklistOne was an apparent failure to follow the checklist

• One was hit by a lawn mowerOne was hit by a lawn mower



Glider Program Procedures ManualGlider Program Procedures Manual

• Originally published in April 2014, updated in July 2015Originally published in April 2014, updated in July 2015

• Provides Safe & Standardized ProceduresProvides Safe & Standardized Procedures

• An extension of CAPR 60-1An extension of CAPR 60-1

• Found on the CAP Pilot Web pageFound on the CAP Pilot Web page

• Includes ORM requirements for all Includes ORM requirements for all all glider activities all glider activities

• A A MustMust Read and Follow Read and Follow



Operational Risk ManagementOperational Risk Management

• Prior to launching, it is extremely important, before going forward, Prior to launching, it is extremely important, before going forward, for the operations and safety personnel to perform and document for the operations and safety personnel to perform and document a detailed and thorough ORM analysis and assessment of the a detailed and thorough ORM analysis and assessment of the proposed launch procedure and flight activity to ensure a safe proposed launch procedure and flight activity to ensure a safe operational environment for gliders, personnel and support operational environment for gliders, personnel and support equipment.equipment.

• Project Officers, Safety Officers, Operations Officers (Air Boss) Project Officers, Safety Officers, Operations Officers (Air Boss) and pilots must all be in agreement with the assessment and and pilots must all be in agreement with the assessment and controls.controls.





The Basics of ORMThe Basics of ORM

• All glider activities must have at least one person All glider activities must have at least one person designated to supervising the safe operation of the designated to supervising the safe operation of the activity.activity.

• In smaller operations it is usually the project In smaller operations it is usually the project officer or his/her designee. officer or his/her designee.

• Larger activities must have an assigned safety Larger activities must have an assigned safety officer and, if necessary, an alternate.officer and, if necessary, an alternate.









Bottom LineBottom Line

• It’s up to each one of us to help prevent glider mishaps.



Briefing Summary:

• Glider Program Status

• Glider Summit 2014 Results

• Glider Program Safety

37


Questions?Questions?



Documents

Civil Air Patrol CITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIES Glider Program Operations Col Jack Buschmann National Glider Program Manager CAP/DOVG