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Civil Air Patrol
Willow Grove JRB
Squadron 902
Emergency Services
 

On average, more than 100 people are saved nationwide by Civil Air Patrol (CAP) volunteer members every year.  Additionally, CAP is committed to assist in disaster relief services. Our total flexibility in cooperation with other agencies allows CAP success in humanitarian missions nationwide.

Squadron 902 specializes in Ground Team Search and Rescue operations.  With the squadron based at NASJRB Willow Grove, Horsham, PA, our ground team can be deployed nationwide to assist in mutual aid assignments.

Additional services provided by the Civil Air Patrol:
ELT Searches:

If a plane crashes in the USA, a device on board the aircraft called an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) sends out a signal which is received by satellite at the United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC).  If the signal is coming from a location within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the AFRCC notifies the Pennsylvania Wing Emergency Services Officer, who will then open the mission base operations center, establish the incident command system and dispatch the appropriate CAP Ground Teams and Air Crews.  This includes establishing emergency priority on special government assigned CAP radio frequencies.  CAP Communications insures that emergency operations will flow without difficulty from remote locations throughout the Commonwealth to the mission base operations center.

Down Aircraft with No ELT Signal:

When an aircraft is reported missing and no ELT signal is detected, the Wing Emergency Services Officer again as noted above in the ELT Search section, performs similar duties to establish the incident command system.  Ground Teams and Air Crews will be directed to the last know location or "flight path" of the air craft.  If a "flight plan" was filed, an investigation of the information provided will assist the incident commander in directing search and rescue resources.

Disaster Relief Operations:

CAP assists communities and government agencies across the country in Disaster Relief Operations.  This includes but is not limited to aerial and ground reconnaissance for damage assessment for government agencies.  CAP can also establish two-way radio communication platforms in areas that experience a loss in normal communications systems due to catastrophic incidents.  CAP Ground Teams assist other agencies with missing person searches, radiological monitoring, shelter, food and water distribution management.

Homeland Security and Counter Drug Missions:

CAP Flight Squadrons assist the United States Homeland Security Agency on observation flights of key locations.  Some of these key locations are located in the Delaware Valley.  CAP takes part in a non-law enforcement role in these activities.

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