CAP as a Cost-Effective Force Multiplier

Posted by Maj Paul Cianciolo on May 20th, 2009 filed in Advice, Emergency Services, Homeland Security, Professional Development, Public Affairs

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using Civil Air Patrol assets. H.R. 1178 directs the U.S. Government Accountability Office to study the ways CAP may assist state, local and tribal governments and the Department of Homeland Security by providing aerial reconnaissance or communication capabilities for border security; providing assistance in a collective response effort, including damage assessment, search and rescue, and evacuations; and assisting in departmental training exercises. The bill is awaiting Senate approval before going to the President.

Civil Air Patrol, as a non-profit all volunteer organization chartered by Congress, saves taxpayers millions of dollars every year by performing non-combative missions for the Air Force and other government agencies. The chart below shows the cost per flying hour to operate an aircraft – a CAP Cessna, an unmanned drone, a helicopter and a military cargo plane. The Civil Air Patrol is a cost-effective force multiplier.

This bill will ensure effective use of all available resources for securing our homeland. — Rep. Charles Dent (R-Pa.)

H.R. 1178 on C-SPAN

H.R. 1178 Summary:

Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to study and report to the Secretary of Homeland Security and specified congressional committees on the functions and capabilities of the Civil Air Patrol to support the homeland security missions of state, local, and tribal governments and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Requires the Comptroller General to review the process by which the Civil Air Patrol may provide assistance to the Secretary, other federal agencies, and states to support homeland security missions, including by providing: (1) aerial reconnaissance or communications capabilities for border security; (2) capabilities for collective response to an act of terrorism, natural disaster, or other man-made event by assisting in damage assessment and situational awareness, conducting search and rescue operations, assisting in evacuations, or transporting time-sensitive medical or other materials; or (3) assistance in the exercise and training of departmental resources responsible for the intercept of aviation threats to designated restricted areas.

Directs the Comptroller General’s report to include assessments of: (1) the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of using Civil Air Patrol assets; and (2) whether current mechanisms for requesting support from the Civil Air Patrol are sufficient.

Requires the Secretary to analyze the study and submit a report, including recommendations for action that could affect DHS’s organization and administration.

Click here to track the progress of the bill.