News - Page 17

South Dakota’s milestone of 50% of the eligible population completing vaccination means ramping-up training and service programs for Civil Air Patrol in South Dakota (South Dakota Wing).

South Dakota Wing, Civil Air Patrol, played a crucial part in South Dakota Air National Guard 114th Fighter Wing aerial intercept training May 12 and 13 by playing the role of adversary aircraft flying in restricted air space. The training helped the Air Guard be ready for the possible real-world need to intercept aircraft having emergencies, violations of Temporary Flight Restriction areas, and other aerial targets.

Flight simulator software is in operation at five SDWG units and counting. 

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Captain Brandon West, of Tea, has surpassed 1,000 hours as a pilot, earning CAP’s “Senior Pilot” aeronautical rating. West learned to fly as a “cadet” in CAP’s youth program in 2013. 

Members of South Dakota Wing from across the state gathered in Custer May 1 for air crew and ground team training.  

South Dakota Wing of Civil Air Patrol will conduct a training exercise Saturday (May 1) in Custer to practice skills used in search and disaster relief missions. The exercise was postponed from last month due to weather.

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was recognized by the Helpline Center of Sioux Falls and Rapid City as a recipient of its annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards. The awards recognize individuals, groups, and businesses that gave of their time and talent to care for communities across South Dakota. The awards were presented during National Volunteer Week, April 18-24.

Training for CAP's operational missions April 17 in Sioux Falls included two-way radios, direction-finding for aircraft emergency locator transmitter signals, and even daily CAP vehicle inspections.

Black Hills squadrons of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) conducted training in the use of search drones Saturday, April 10, in Rapid City. The drones, officially called small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), are among the CAP’s newest capabilities in its role as Air Force Auxiliary.

The U.S. Air Force and Civil Air Patrol (CAP) National Headquarters gave South Dakota Wing an "Effective" evaluation at the completion of its latest inspection April 9.