Aerospace Activities

Aerospace Opportunities

At the end of 2018, the USAF lacked 2,000 pilots. Boeing alone needs 117,000 over the next two decades, and the General Aviation industry is growing rapidly ever year. The next generation of leaders are in line to fill this gap.

The first and most memorable way a cadet can start his or her path to an aviation career is to go on an Orientation Flight. Every CAP cadet under age 18 is eligible for five flights in a powered aircraft (usually a single-engine Cessna), five flights in a glider aircraft, and an unlimited number of backseat flights when conditions allow. Orientation flights are always free to cadets. Survey data has repeatedly shown that the #1 reason youth become CAP cadets is an interest in flying.

After a cadet has developed a a better sense of what it's like to fly, they have the opportunity to attend one of the many flight academies across the nation. Flight academies are a part of the vast number of NCSA's (National Cadet Special Activities), that take place over the summer and allow cadets to hone in on their interests. At a flight academy, cadets fly daily with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) along with taking ground school lessons in preparation for a solo flight in an aircraft - yes, all by themselves!

Similarly, the private pilot certificate is the first common aviation achievement outside of Civil Air Patrol.  The minimum age to be a private pilot is 17, and training costs $7,000-$10,000 to earn the certificate. Civil Air Patrol, searching for ways to interest youth in aviation without a financial burden, created the Cadet Wings program, a scholarship program dedicated to paying for cadets flight expenses.

Cadets have certain criteria to be eligible for the competitive scholarship. One must have passed multiple FAA related tests, completed prerequisite training, and exhibit the passion to earn a Private Pilot’s License (PPL). Civil Air Patrol, being one of the top pathways to an aviation career for youth, offers orientation flights and a week-long summer flight academies (mentioned above) to provide the training to qualify for Cadet Wings. After selected cadets apply for the scholarship, they are reviewed by the Youth Aviation Initiative, the overarching panel for CAP cadet aviation efforts. Cadets are notified and begin training through one of four CAP funded paths to a PPL; a commercial residential flight school, a CAP in-residence flight academy (separate from an NCSA), a commercial FBO/flight school, or a CAP Aircraft/CAP Instructor. Cadets have six months to finish the requirements and pass the checkride for a Private Pilot’s License.

Once completed, they may freely exercise the rights of their license, privately on their own or in Civil Air Patrol missions.

Currently 48 cadets (nationwide) have completed the program in its entirety and received a PPL; there are another 28 enrolled and actively training. The Cadet Wings program offers many passionate teens the opportunity to begin their career early with little financial burden. Cadets across the nation are taking advantage of this important program.

Learn more about Aerospace Opportunities and the Cadet Wings program here.