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| Civil Air Patrol missions are flown utilizing the crew concept. The Observer and Scanner are non-pilot aircrew positions required to be on board for a mission to be flown. The Observer and Scanner both have distinct duties. Missions are conducted to complete various objectives such as gathering digital images for local civil authorities, to searching for downed aircraft and many other missions as assigned. |
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| The Observer sits up front to the right of the pilot. The Observer performs navigation, communication and electronic and visual search duties during the mission. As an Observer, you tell the pilot where to fly. The Observer assists the pilot with VFR See and Avoid requirements throughout the flight. You report the time information the Scanner is collecting by FM and VHF radio back to the mission base. The Observer operates the electronic search equipment attempting to narrow the search area when an aircraft or personal emergency locator transmitter beacon identified. In addition, after you assist the pilot navigate to the assigned location, you assist the Scanner by looking to the ground searching for the objective of the mission. During the mission, the Observe is frequent communication with mission base reporting your aircraft's location and relaying important flight time information. You will utilize the latest in aircraft navigation and communications equipment to accomplish your assigned mission.
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| The
Scanner sits in the left back seat of the
aircraft if the aircraft is a three
crewmember aircraft. If a four crewmember
aircraft, there may be two Scanners
onboard. The Scanner's duties start at the
moment of engine start. The Scanner is
busy during all phases of flight by
recording engine starts, time off the
ground, time to search objective, arrival
time at the assigned search location and
time on station. Once on station, the
Scanner's primary duty begins. The Scanner
looks outside the aircraft towards the
ground carefully scanning for the
objective of the mission. The Scanner
captures digital images when the objective
is found. These images can be sent back to
the mission base during the flight. Then,
if more images are required, the Scanner
can capture more while at the search
objective. When the time comes to return
to the mission base, the Scanner is once
again busy recording important time
information, such as estimated return to
base, landing times and engine shut down
time. Estimated time enroute and time to
base are reported to the mission base by
radio during the flight so the aircrew's
location is monitored by the ground based
mission personnel. |
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Here are some helpful Obs/Scanner Links
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