A branch of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) will be forming in Page in the coming weeks and months. Major Randy L. Hammit and his wife Kelli Hammit proposed the formation of the CAP to the mayor and city council at last week’s city council meeting, which was unanimously approved.

Council also approved usage of a conference room at the Page Municipal Airport where the members of the CAP can meet.

Prior to moving to Page from Albuquerque, New Mexico two years ago, the Hammits were active in that city’s Civil Air Patrol and they recognized a need for one in Page.
“The idea behind the Civil Air Patrol is to grow a new pipeline of young people in aerospace,” said Randy. “Part of what we do is have our experienced pilots teach the next generation of pilots.”

The CAP is open to anyone over 12 years old.

The CAP is about much more than just flying, said Randy. They also need radio operators, photographers, people to operate GPS units, and observers to name a few positions.
Once a crew is established in Page the CAP can start doing missions. Their primary function is performing inland search and rescue missions.

When on a search mission two to four people in the plane and, if possible, a support crew on the ground. The crew in the plane consists of a pilot, co-pilot, a mission observer and mission scanner. While the pilot is flying the others in the plane search for target, keep a log and watch for other aircraft.

The CAP also performs what are called Angel Flights which is when they transport people for medical purposes.

When a CAP crew is given a mission they instantly fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S.  Air Force.

“We can’t perform all the services the Civil Air Patrol is able to provide without more members,” said Randy.

Randy says it’s their goal to get a plane permanently stationed in Page. The CAP has 560 airplanes in the U.S., with 12 to 15 in Arizona. The planes are owned by the U.S. Air Force. The planes they fly are Cessna 172, 182 and 206.

Though one of the primary purposes of the CAP is to perform search and rescue missions, they provide much more than that for their members, said Randy. The organization needs historians, photographers, chaplains, radio operators, people in finance and many other poisitions to keep the program functional.

The Hammits encourage families to join the CAP.

“This is a great organization for youth and families,” said Randy. “The Civil Air Patrol is the real deal, with important and serious functions. It’s a great way for youth to learn responsibility and discipline. People are counting on them. What we accomplish is all based on the energy of our membership. This is a great way to give back to the community and to the country.”