CAP Inks Deal with Textron Aviation for 17 More Piston Aircraft

The Civil Air Patrol has inked a contract with Textron Aviation for 17 piston aircraft, including 11 172S Skyhawks, 5 182T Skylanes, and a T206HD Stationair. The aircraft join a fleet of nearly 550 Cessna aircraft on the CAP’s flightlines, and they were purchased using fiscal year 2020 funds.

“From search and rescue, to disaster relief and homeland security, the missions the CAP undertake daily are as broad as their footprint across the US,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, special missions sales for Textron Aviation. “We are honored that Cessna aircraft continue to be the organization’s platform of choice for these crucial operations. The Cessna piston aircraft fleet is renowned in general aviation for its operating costs, performance and durability, all important factors for an organization supporting a variety of communities throughout the country.”

The CAP has operated continuously throughout the recent months supporting various governmental relief and search-and-rescue efforts—demonstrating the critical nature of the division’s overall mission. As an auxiliary to the Air Force, the CAP delivers its services to both states and local communities—flying a total of 19,000 hours in FY2019 in the Cessna fleet, and in the process saving 117 lives. The service provides a great on-ramp to aviation for young people—look for the story outlining that initial flight experience in the June + July issue of Flying now available in print and digital formats.