Sarasota, Fla. -- Twenty-six cadets from across Southwest Florida participated in Group Five’s Cadet Aviation Ground School the week June 14-20 in Sarasota. Florida Wing’s Group Five commander Lt. Col. Fran Gleockler coordinated the program designed to prepare qualified Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets for passing the Federal Aviation Administration’s Private Pilot Knowledge Test.
To be selected for the ground school, the cadets needed to demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing their private pilot training. In addition, they must have maintained academic rigor while successfully participating with their assigned squadron. By completing the course of study, cadets can further their progress toward achieving their dream of becoming a pilot. This represents a significant step of progress whether they are aiming for a military or commercial academy. The primary benefit of this activity is that the cadets learn that they are personally responsible for their own success. This prepares them for the personal focus and determination that will be required to complete the practical skills portion of flight training. The school’s Safety Officer, 1st Lt. Bob Little, commented, “The ground school allows us to help develop a cadet’s area of interest while guiding them towards a service-oriented way of thinking.”
The ground school is an example of the vision that Lt. Col. Gleockler sees for the role that CAP plays in Southwest Florida communities. In this case, it is a role that brings a unique opportunity to the area’s youth, feeds their interest in aviation and helps them to recognize it is a realistic goal to pursue. The in-residence format of the school is a cost-effect way to bring this type of opportunity within reach of cadets who, for economic reasons, might not find other aviation programs accessible to them. At the same time, key elements of the mainstream cadet program are being reinforced. The 40 hours of class time is balanced with periods of physical fitness activity, while the demanding curriculum fosters a cooperative learning environment where cadets tutor each other and leadership skills are exercised.
Commander Gleockler attributes the success of this year’s activities to the cooperative efforts of the community and CAP members. “We were able to build upon the lessons learned from the prior year’s ground school so we were well prepared and had tremendous volunteer support from a growing number of cadet parents and CAP senior members,” says Gleockler. The continued fund-raising efforts led by Lt. Col. Virginia Cullity has allowed the dream of a cadet ground school to be turned into a reality. Having access to the Sarasota Military Academy‘s newly renovated facilities is vital to being able to offer the in-residence program.
The schedule of instruction exposed the cadets to the entire Jeppesen ground school curriculum which includes three stage tests and a final exam. The first test tends to be a wake-up call for the cadets signaling that this is a serious undertaking. Those scoring over 70% on the final exam had their logbooks endorsed to take the FAA private pilot knowledge exam. Other classroom activities included ATC simulations, video presentations, group problem-solving, and movies that focused on various milestones in the history of aviation.
One of the highlights of this year’s ground school was having a former Navy test pilot, Captain Philip “Rowdy” Yates, teaching the segments on the fundamentals of aerodynamics. The high-quality of instruction is possible by the generous volunteer efforts by the team of talented certified flight instructors led by Lt. Col. Richard Petrucci. The other instructors included former Navy pilot Doug Kirkland, Sport Pilot instructor Jim Crone, Chief Flight Instructor Ed Barros, and Group Five Standardization & Evaluation Officer Captain Peter Baker.
This type of programming is an excellent example of what can be achieved by blending two of CAP’s primary missions. The combination of the cadet program and aerospace education creates a fertile environment to develop young people’s interest in general aviation. It also serves as a benchmark to demonstrate how community and CAP resources can be effectively combined to have a positive impact with lasting effects. The community effort to generate the funding created an opportunity for the youth to use their summer schedule in a productive manner while steering them away from detrimental influences. It is a little investment that can provide a big return in the future.
Plans are already underway for next year’s event. “This year’s ground school saw an 86% increase in enrollment and we anticipate similar growth for next year,” Gleockler said, “that’s proof enough for me that we are on the right track."
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