AFROTC cadets take O-Rides with CAP
Maj. Roger Helton
Issue date: 12/1/09 Section: Student Life
Wednesday Nov. 4 marked the first flight for Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) cadets Hilary Myers and Juan Moya. Myers and Moya are freshmen at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach Florida. The AFROTC cadets are given four flights in the front seat of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) aircraft to experience firsthand and up front the thrill of flying an aircraft. These flights are referred to as Cadet Orientation Flights or "O-rides" by the pilots who fly them. The aircraft used in most cases is a CAP operated U.S. Air Force (USAF) purchased Cessna. The CAP has the world's largest fleet of single-engine aircraft. Many of these AFROTC cadets graduate, get their commission and go on to become pilots in the USAF. Often that first flight with the CAP is their first opportunity to actually handle the controls of an aircraft.
The flight was flown by Major Roger Helton, Commander of the Ormond Beach Senior Squadron. The flight was conducted in a new Cessna C-182T Nav III, Garman G-1000 glass cockpit aircraft. "We prefer to fly the cadets in the glass airplanes," stated Major Helton. "They seem to adapt very quickly to all the computer generated displays, much the same as a video game on their computers at home. I have yet to see a cadet not smiling before the flight is over. They really seem to enjoy themselves."
This flight also marked another first for the CAP and ERAU. It was the first flight to originate from the Embry-Riddle Flight Operations Ramp at the Daytona Beach International Airport. Several months of preparation along with security clearances from the TSA had to be achieved before this could become a reality. The first day went perfectly smooth. Operating from the Riddle Ramp facilitates much easier access for the cadets, many of whom do not have their own vehicles. There are over 35 cadets registered to fly four hours each over the next several months totaling more than 150 hours of flight time for the Ormond Beach pilots. "We are looking forward to the challenge and expect to meet our goal," Major Helton stated.
The flight was flown by Major Roger Helton, Commander of the Ormond Beach Senior Squadron. The flight was conducted in a new Cessna C-182T Nav III, Garman G-1000 glass cockpit aircraft. "We prefer to fly the cadets in the glass airplanes," stated Major Helton. "They seem to adapt very quickly to all the computer generated displays, much the same as a video game on their computers at home. I have yet to see a cadet not smiling before the flight is over. They really seem to enjoy themselves."
This flight also marked another first for the CAP and ERAU. It was the first flight to originate from the Embry-Riddle Flight Operations Ramp at the Daytona Beach International Airport. Several months of preparation along with security clearances from the TSA had to be achieved before this could become a reality. The first day went perfectly smooth. Operating from the Riddle Ramp facilitates much easier access for the cadets, many of whom do not have their own vehicles. There are over 35 cadets registered to fly four hours each over the next several months totaling more than 150 hours of flight time for the Ormond Beach pilots. "We are looking forward to the challenge and expect to meet our goal," Major Helton stated.
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