Aircraft and flight crews from the Texas Wing are supporting the Texas Air National Guard in vital flood recovery operations by escorting MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles from Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base on reconnaissance missions over the affected areas.
Reapers are required by the Federal Aviation Administration to have a ground-based or airborne observer because the camera at the front of the aircraft doesn’t provide enough vision for the pilot to see birds or other aircraft.
That’s where Civil Air Patrol comes in.
The Reapers take off from Ellington Field and fly to an operating area about 45 miles off the Texas coast with a CAP escort keeping an eye out for anything that might be a collision risk. When the Reaper reaches the operating area, it climbs to18,000 feet and moves to its tasking area in the Hill Country of central Texas.
Once on scene, the Reaper follows hundreds of miles of the Guadalupe River and uses its infrared, low-light, and regular cameras to note large piles of debris or other areas of interest, then sends those images to a command post on the ground that can decide whether or not to send resources to investigate and see if people or vehicles are there.
After the mission, the Reaper flies back to the off-coast operating area, joins back up with the CAP aircraft, and returns to Ellington.
From July 5-12, Civil Air Patrol participated in 13 sorties, totaling more than 20 hours at a cost of only $1,900. If the missions continue through July 16, as expected, the Texas Wing aircrews will complete about 20 sorties.
“We are the only current, proficient, ongoing chase program in all of Civil Air Patrol,” said Maj. Wally Zane, director of chase operations. “We fly with the Reapers a lot in training, and when they are called up, we support their mission.
“Our members volunteer from 6 in the morning until late at night when the mission is over, and we couldn’t do what we do without their willingness to contribute for the greater good.”
Acting as a Total Force partner and the U.S. Air Force auxiliary, CAP helps First Air Force rapidly respond to nonmilitary threats domestically in a Defense Support of Civil Authorities capacity to save lives, relieve suffering, prevent property damage, and provide humanitarian assistance.
CAP has crews across Texas trained in aerial reconnaissance and search and rescue, both from aircraft and on the ground. The organization is often called on to help emergency managers determine the extent of damage from natural disasters and to help in search and rescue efforts.
“Civil Air Patrol members are well-trained and experienced in conducting aerial photography and search-and-rescue operations, and the Texas Wing is always ready to assist local, state, and federal authorities in times of need. Our hearts go out to all affected by this tragic event,” said Col. Don Gulliksen, the Texas Wing commander.
