2011 TDEM CONFERENCE VOLUNTEER RADIO PANEL 29 April 2011

OVERVIEW CIVIL AIR PATROL IS THE VOLUNTEER AUXILIARY OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE NATIONWIDE ORGANIZATION WITH OVER 60,000 MEMBERS. 3,000 + IN TEXAS

OVERVIEW CAP HAS THREE ASSIGNED “MISSIONS” 1.AEROSPACE EDUCATION 2.CADET PROGRAMS 3.EMERGENCY SERVICES

OVERVIEW EMERGENCY SERVICES MISSION IS PRIMARILY FLYING ACTIVITIES INCLUDES SOME GROUND OPERATIONS INCLUDES SOME GROUND OPERATIONS COMMUNICATIONS AS A SUPPORT FUNCTION FOR ALL CAP MISSIONS.

CAPABILITIES 30 AIRCRAFT IN TEXAS 550 AIRCRAFT NATION WIDE MIXTURE OF CESSNA 172, CESSNA 182 AND OTHER LESS COMMON TYPES

CAPABILITIES RADIO EQUIPMENT: GROUND VHF OVER 500 MODERN EF JOHNSON PORTABLE, MOBILE AND BASES FREQUENCIES IN THE MILITARY LAND MOBILE BAND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE 2M BAND ALL NARROWBAND, ALSO P25 CAPABLE AND MOST OF THE RADIOS CAN BE ENCRYPTED

CAPABILITIES FIXED REPEATERS INSTALLED STATE WIDE 6 “TACTICAL” OR PORTABLE REPEATERS ASSIGNED IN TEXAS WHICH CAN BE FLOWN OR USED ON THE GROUND. CHANNELS AND EQUIPMENT SHARED NATION WIDE.

CAPABILITIES HF ABOUT 60 HF RADIOS ABOUT 60 HF RADIOS LESS THEN HALF ARE ALE CAPABLE 5 MOBILES/6 RDP CHANNELS SHARED WITH CAP “SOUTHWEST REGION”

CAPABILITIES AIRCRAFT ALL AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH VHF FM AS WELL AS VHF AM AIRCRAFT BAND RADIOS ALL BUT TWO AIRCRAFT HAVE P25 CAPABILITY

CAPABILITY: INTEROPERABILITY VHF ONLY ALL EF JOHNSON GROUND RADIOS HAVE WIDE AND NARROWBAND INTEROPERABILITY CHANNELS AS SHOWN IN THE STATE MOU ALL AIRCRAFT HAVE WIDE BAND CHANNELS AND SOME NARROWBAND CHANNELS NO UHF,700/800 MHz CAPABILITY

HOW TO ACTIVATE 1 CAP may be tasked by the Air Force and the State at the same time. 1 st Air Force/AFNORTH approves CAP missions. The Civil Air Patrol National Operations Center at CAP HQ Maxwell AFB is the point of contact. Within the State of Texas there are two standard processes used to engage the CAP:

HOW TO ACTIVATE 2 1) A jurisdiction wants to make a request. a) They should contact their DDC captain b) If the DDC agrees and does not have the resources need, forwards the request to the SOC c) if the SOC agrees with the request, the SOC contacts the NOC and the Texas Wing contact d) The NOC negotiates with 1st Air Force and assigns the mission

HOW TO ACTIVATE 3 2) An agency like TFS wants to make a request during an on-going mission like the current wild fire situation. a) They contact the SOC b) if the SOC agrees with the request, they contact the NOC and the Texas Wing Contact. c) The NOC negotiates with 1st Air Force and assigns the mission. 2) An agency like TFS wants to make a request during an on-going mission like the current wild fire situation. a) They contact the SOC b) if the SOC agrees with the request, they contact the NOC and the Texas Wing Contact. c) The NOC negotiates with 1st Air Force and assigns the mission.

What does this mean in practical terms? CAP is a flying organization with its own communications support. We talk to other agencies on VHF interoperability channels Our aircraft are “ low cost alternatives”, or in other words we work cheap.

Actual Missions Pre-IKE air coordination mission over Corpus Christi involving CAP and Texas Task Force 1 in Houston. Various “Fire Watch” functions in the past Currently flying USFS repeaters above Palo Pinto fires.

QUESTIONS ?