The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) commands the world's largest single engine piston fleet -- and that fleet now includes 18 new 182T Skylane aircraft from Cessna Aircraft, company representatives announced at the Sun 'N Fun Fly-In at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport this week.

"Cessna is proud CAP selected our aircraft to help carry out their noble charter," said Cessna Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jack J. Pelton. "The 182Ts will help CAP pilots fly reconnaissance missions for homeland security, search and rescue and disaster relief, and counter-drug reconnaissance. During disaster situations, like Hurricane Katrina, CAP provides real-time damage assessment and transports emergency personnel from site to site. Our country is privileged to have this organization comprised of 58,000 volunteers dedicated to serving the Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force."

CAP has the world's largest fleet of single engine piston aircraft, and 540 are Cessnas. The 16 additional 182Ts will make 58 total 182Ts in the fleet, with plans to add more this year.

"The 182T is a versatile four-place aircraft that is well-suited for the CAP mission," said General Antonio J. Pineda, CAP national commander. "The 182T is fuel efficient, enabling CAP to perform an important mission at a very low cost relative to other Air Force or sister service units. It has great endurance, which allows us to remain on station for an extended period of time."

General Pineda said CAP members have particularly enjoyed flying the airplanes equipped with the new Garmin G1000 avionics package.

"The G1000 glass cockpit is a great enhancement," he said. "It provides truly integrated systems that, until recently, were only available in the big jets. It reduces pilot workload and increases safety -- the best of both worlds."

CAP is a non-profit volunteer organization that conducts 95 percent of the nation's inland search and rescue missions, aerial reconnaissance for homeland security, and disaster relief and damage assessment, among other missions. The more than 57,000 members include 21,500 cadets ages 12 to 21.

FMI: www.cessna.com, www.cap.gov