Ohio Wing members,

We have finally confirmed that there will be an Aerial Photographer’s course at the upcoming P.D.O. training weekend.  Developing more aerial photographers in the Ohio Wing is critical to our new and expanding mission that we are getting requests in which to participate.  This is something that our Wing Commander has pointed out that the Ohio Wing desperately needs.  It will be our first formal class covering this new Emergency Services skill.  I am pleased to announce the National Headquarters has recognized the importance of our Wing being able to provide these skills. To that end they have provided us with two new Nikon D 90 Cameras for us to perform these services. We are going to need two types of personnel to perform these services.  One will be the actual person taking the pictures while in the aircraft and one will be the person that can and will help on the ground uploading the many pictures that have been taken into the computer system for transmitting to our “customer” whoever that may be.

You may apply for this class in the usual fashion for applying to attend the P.D.O. weekend.  I believe that Major Paul Creed has prepared a new form for this new class. 

Captain Jeff Glover, who makes his living as an aerial photographer, will be the instructor.  One could not find a better or more qualified and experienced instructor.

Please consider being one of the first group of people in the Ohio Wing to advance in learning these very special skills.  Times in CAP are changing and we need to stay up to date on these new skills that CAP needs us to perform in the Emergency Services arena.

I look forward to seeing you there on April 13-14, 2013

Raymond Francis, Lt Col CAP
Director of Emergency Services

Ohio Wing, CAP   

Specifically for those people planning to attend the Mission Observer ground school class the following does apply. When this class was first announced it was billed out as a mission scanner/observer ground school.   In light of the changing type of missions that CAP is experiencing these days it has been decided and approved by the Wing Commander that a more in depth Observer only class will be taught.  It will last the full two days and will concentrate in depth on the duties of the mission observer.  It will go into the knowledge needed to perform observer duties in the G 1000 glass cockpit aircraft  Since Ohio Wing's fleet of aircraft is growing and more G 1000 type of aircraft are being assigned to Ohio, we feel that it is very important to tailor the training to the equipment that we will be using.  I am please to inform you that Lt Col Michael Ullman will be teaching this two day class.  Michael's past history has earned him a excellent reputation of teaching the observer ground school class.

There will be a few new requirements to attend this class.  All those attendees will need to be a fully qualified 101 card carrying Mission Scanner when they arrive to attend this class.  Those that apply to attend this class will be required to be present for the entire class.  They will also have to have the SQTR requirements of the their Commander's Approval for Prerequisites and the Commanders  Approval for familiarization and preparatory training accomplished. CAP Regulation require the Commnader's approval of these two items BFORE aditional training takes place.  

Our goal is to have provided you with an in-depth knowledge of the duties of a Mission Observer at the end of this class.  All that should be left to do to finalize your mission observer rating is to accomplish the flights necessary for you to demonstrate the knowledge and proficiency to perform the duties of a Mission Observer.  We are now trying to arrange flight opportunities (we hope funded) the following weekend after the ground school to fulfill those requirements.

Raymond Francis, Lt Col CAP
Director, Emergency Services

Ohio Wing, CAP