The Civil Air Patrol (CAP), a civilian auxiliary wing of the US Air Force, expects to issue contracts this month that will pave the way for a three-year re-equipment programme for parts of its 540-strong fleet.
The CAP operates with 60,000 volunteers stationed at more than 1,700 units throughout the USA on search and rescue, disaster assessment and other missions. The organisation is seeking replacements for its three main aircraft categories, which are known as Types 1, 2 and 3, and in most cases comprise Cessna 172, 182 and 206s, respectively. But CAP contracting management chief Boyd Hemphill says: "The contracts we are going to let will not be for specific aircraft, but will be a pricing vehicle for new aircraft."
The CAP aims to award "at least two contracts" with different manufacturers for each type of aircraft, allowing the procurement to remain fully competitive, says Hemphill. So far, no specific aircraft numbers have been discussed for the CAP requirement, which is still in flux.
"The contracts do not limit us to particular numbers," Hemphill says. Procurement will "depend on the aircraft designated for replacement, and any new missions that may come up", Hempthill adds.
The CAP, a non-profit organisation operated under a federal government grant, is now expected to assume wider roles, including rapid response and surveillance duties, as part of the US government's homeland security drive.
Correction In Flight International 26 November-2 December, we wrongly said that CAP had issued a contract to Gippsland Aeronautics. No contracts have been issued, although several bids have been received, including one from the Australian manufacturer Gippsland Aeronautics, which is proposing its GA8 Airvan utility aircraft.Source: Flight International