Orientation Flights

The Cadet Orientation Flight (COF) program is designed to introduce our youth, under 18 years old, to general aviation through hands-on orientation flights in single-engine aircraft and gliders.

Complete details about the COF program are found in CAPP 52-7, Cadet Orientation Flight Syllabus.

The CAPC 77, Certificate of First Flight, which is attached to CAPP 52-7, is available as a full color certificate. You would request this certificate the same way you request other CAP forms or certificates - with a CAPF 8, Requisition for Publications and Blank Forms (send the CAPF 8 to the address listed on the form).

All COFs are reimbursed at the rates published in CAPR 173-3, Payment for Civil Air Patrol Support.

Your Region Commander manages the allocation of funds to the wings. Your Wing Commander, or his/her designee, manages the flying program for your wing and may issue further guidance (for example: allowing duplicate rides, establishing ferrying times, etc.).

The process to record orientation flights has changed to an on-line system. Click here to download the official memo (Adobe PDF format).

For those responsible for entering or verifying the flight information, they can begin using the on-line system now. Click here for the instructions. 

On 8 April, 2004, all COF syllabus credit for cadets recorded by National Headquarters resets to zero. Every eligible cadet can continue to fly.

- All pending flight syllabus credits not yet recorded by National Headquarters will be treated as new flights and not reset.

- Wings can review the historical data through e-Services. Web Security Administrators (WSA) can grant permissions to the "Historical Cadet Syllabus Detail Report" and the "Historical Cadet Syllabus Count Report."

- The funds available for COFs remains unchanged.

CAP continues to fly cadets under "Corporate Mission" status (see CAPR 60-1 ). See our recent Memorandum for details.