CAP supports BMGR
With 1.1 million acres of land to manage and with twice as much airspace, the day-to-day supervision of airspace, land and operations of Barry M. Goldwater Range - East requires the 56th Range Management Office to be creative when it comes to administering the ranges and resources used to train pilots.
Overflights are necessary to survey target areas for future development, evaluate moving target track erosion and search for jettisoned tanks and aircraft parts. Civil Air Patrol aircraft are well suited to perform necessary missions based on their flight speeds and excellent observation platforms. Their aircraft are equipped with GPS receivers to capture and document the specific geographic coordinates. The overflights are also used to monitor natural and cultural resources, including prehistoric archaeological sites on the range.
“Without the CAP, it would be extremely difficult to accomplish the RMO mission,” said Chas Buchanan, 56th RMO director of operations. “They provide a ready - access service with a professional aircrew and well maintained aircraft to supplement our operation with military training route surveys, by finding jettisoned tanks and aircraft parts, assisting with emergency operations, as well as cultural and natural aerial surveys.”
The CAP mission is diverse, providing emergency services, search and rescue operations, both air and ground, and integral to their operation is promoting aerospace education and developing young adults to the cadet program, so the RMO mission is a good fit.
“We do our training and complete a real world mission at the same time” said Lt. Col. Brian Ready, CAP director of operations. “It’s a win, win for us and the RMO. We need training and practice locating targets and since the BMGR is restricted airspace we can focus on sharpening our locating and documenting skills without excessive aircraft traffic.”
The partnership between the CAP and RMO qualified as being part of a “Best Practice” program. The exceptional working relationship between the 56th Fighter Wing and Arizona Wing Civil Air Patrol provides invaluable service toward mission accomplishment for Luke Air Force Base and the effective and efficient management of the BMGR.
Mr. Buchanan has been a CAP member for three years.
“I got involved primarily to keep flying and because I am supportive of their mission,” he said. “The search and rescue operations are first-rate and cultivating young people to volunteer for the right reasons [is a good objective],” he said. “Life in the RMO without CAP support would be difficult.”
Cost savings for two full years of CAP flight support is about $16,000. Every state has a CAP wing and each stateside military installation benefits from the outstanding and professional volunteer services offered by dedicated CAP members. CAP has been known to scramble an aircraft and pilot in less than two hours in support of Luke.