Civil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol

CITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIESCITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIES

Flight Release Officer Flight Release Officer Refresher Training CourseRefresher Training Course

Reason for Refresher TrainingReason for Refresher Training

To ensure the safety of all flight operations.

To ensure all personnel involved the CAP Flight Release program understand the results/consequences of (flight) releasing unqualified pilots during non-emergency “day-to-day” operations.

To provide focused training on flight releases generating a Flight Release Exemption which must be approved/justified by higher authority.

Basic Flight Release ChecklistBasic Flight Release Checklist

Are PIC(s) qualified to fly the CAP aircraft for the type of flight proposed? i.e. Is pilot qualified in a/c type listed on the release? Consult the Ops-Qual FRO Report.

Does the PIC(s) possess the appropriate pilot currency for the flight?i.e. Is pilot qualified to fly that particular mission type (e.g. Cadet O-ride)? Consult the Ops-Qual FRO Report.

Are all aircraft occupants CAP members? If not, have applicable procedures been followed for non-CAP members, including CAPF 9 if applicable?

Is the correct mission symbol selected?

Basic Flight Release Checklist Basic Flight Release Checklist (cont.)(cont.)

Is the route of flight complete, and does the PIC have permission to fly to destinations outside the wing? Does permission exist for all landings at every airport IAW CAPR 60-1?

Will a flight plan be filed (required for over 50 nm)? If not, what is the estimated landing time?

Unless an FAA flight plan is filed and activated, the FRO is responsible for initiating missing aircraft procedures two hours after the estimated landing time if not notified the flight was safely concluded. 

Pilot Professional CourtesyPilot Professional Courtesy

To the maximum extent possible, pilots should check their own Ops Quals, to ensure accuracy & currency, prior to requesting a flight release.By checking Ops Quals prior to requesting a flight release:

Pilots can correct certain deficiencies “on the spot” thereby reducing the possibility of the flight release being denied,Or if the flight release is denied, -- understand why the release was denied.

Items that cannot be corrected on the spot, should be processed via appropriate protocols and channels.

e-Flight Release Exceptionse-Flight Release Exceptions

The questionable items on the e-Flight Release Details page will be indicated in red text. 

These flights must be released individually as the FRO will be required to enter comments justifying the release. 

When exceptions are noted, the flight release approval and disapproval page will show the exceptions and provide an area for comments.

e-Flight Release Exceptions (cont.)e-Flight Release Exceptions (cont.)

Comments are required for flight release approvals, but are optional for disapprovals. Exceptions and comments are recorded with the flight

release.

Approving and justifying the flight release does not make the underlying issue go away.

All e-Flight Release exceptions are logged at NHQ and are visible to Ops personnel and commanders.

Single Sortie Release Example

Single SortieExceptions are indicated in red text

Multi-Sortie Release

Note:Alert!Means anExceptionHas been Generated

Multi-Sortie Release Example

Arrows added to slide for emphasis

Insurance CoverageInsurance Coverage

Per CAP Regulation 900-5

Air Force Assigned Missions (“A” & “B”): FECA/FTCA (subject to Department of

Labor determinations)

Corporate Assigned Missions (“C”) Corporate Insurance - $10,000 limit

Medical Expenses - $8,000 (considered “secondary” insurance

Bottom LineBottom Line

If there is an exception generated in an e-Flight Release, there is a valid reason for it. 

Unless the FRO can correct the problem, the flight should not be released.  Note: There are exceptions when the aircraft is listed

as PMC [partially mission capable] or has items on the maintenance deferred list (MX deferral list).

In the above circumstances, the FRO must question the PIC about these items to insure they both [the FRO and the PIC] understand what equipment is not operational.

Bottom Line (continued)Bottom Line (continued)

The Ops Quals and Membership data in WMIRS is “Live” (not delayed), thus when WMIRS indicates a pilot is not qualified, they are not! Updates to Ops Quals will clear the problem in

WMIRS immediately. Exceptions dealing with Pilot

Currency/Qualifications must be corrected prior to the flight or the flight should not be released. 

Failure to correct the exceptions may, and probably will, lead to the denial of coverage, on an “A” or “B” mission. Corporate insurance may not be in force on “C” mission. 

Reference InformationReference Information

CAPR 60-1 (Para 2-5)http://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/R060_001_132EEB0197465.pdf

CAPR 60-3http://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/R060_003_075A4369FBA8E.pdf

CAPR 900-5http://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/R900_005_8F2514161E982.pdf

WMIRS e-Flight Release Procedureshttps://missions.capnhq.gov/wmirs/DownloadFiles/eFR_Process_10_Feb_12.pdf

On-line Flight Release Officer Coursehttps://www.capnhq.gov/CAP.LMS.Web/Course/course_lessons.aspx?c=45 

Reference InformationReference Information

 Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the CAP Southeast Region operations team for their input into this presentation.

And, to all of those who supported this effort to enhance the proficiency of CAP’s flight release officers.