USAF Auxiliary Tops 100,000 Hours Aloft

The Civil Air Patrol set a new record for cadet orientation flight hours in fiscal 2023, with CAP pilots totaling 14,451-hours aloft with their young passengers—an increase of 19.5-percent over the 12,096-hour figure set in fiscal 2022.

The previous high for orientation flight hours, set in fiscal 2018, was 14,101.  The record total helped CAP break the one-hundred-thousand-hour flight mark for the first time since 2017. Pilots logged 101,446 flying hours for all missions in fiscal 2023, up seven-percent over the previous year's total of 95,242.

The orientation flight program provides each CAP cadet up to five flights in a powered aircraft and five flights in a glider.

Major General Edward D. Phelka, CAP’s national commander and CEO, often participates in the program when his time permits.

General Phelka, after piloting a pair of cadet orientation flights during the Maine Wing Conference in September, set forth: “The cadet experience, I think, is really important, to do all of the different things cadets have a chance to do.”

Phelka continued: “Giving orientation rides is one of my favorite things because I love creating those experiences [for cadets]. It’s a chance for me to continue to do that as a pilot; it’s one of my favorite things.”

General Phelka concluded: “As the national commander I come out for these conferences, but doing orientation rides gives me a chance to see more than just the people who come to the conference. I get to see the condition of the airplanes, I get to talk to flight release officers, I get to understand a lot more about a wing that I’m visiting. Plus, the bonus is getting a chance to fly cadets.”

FMI: www.gocivilairpatrol.com