NY State budgets $300k for Civil Air Patrol
New funding in the 2017-18 New York state budget will support the operations of the CAP New York Wing
The US Civil Air Patrol (CAP) has highlighted that new funding in the 2017-18 New York state budget will support the operations of its New York Wing. The budget, passed by the State Legislature in April, includes $300,000 for a variety of renovations, new equipment and enhanced programmes for the 2,300 senior members and cadets of the wing’s 69 units.
Col Tom Carello, wing commander, said: “CAP must continue to grow its pilot population to assure a highly trained professional corps of airmen will always be available to fly search and rescue missions. To that end, the wing is purchasing a $100,000 Redbird Flight Simulator with G500 and G1000 Fly-by-Wire Programs. This will provide our pilots the opportunity to improve existing flight skills as well as permit CAP cadets to enhance flight training through our CAP Cadet Program.”
Funding from the state budget will cover $125,000 in renovations to the wing’s Schenectady mission base, said CAP, as well as $100,000 for a new flight simulator that will help expand STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education for its cadets and into schools across the state.
The remaining funds will support other training programmes, equipment and operations at Wing Headquarters.
In 2016, New York Wing members provided $7.7 million of volunteer man-hours in service to the state, said CAP.