Local CAP Squadron Flies CONR-1AF (AFNORTH) Commander Published Aug. 6, 2013 By LT. Col. Kelly Noler, CAP FL-435 Operations Officer TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Tyndall-Panama Composite Squadron (FL-435) of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Group-1/Florida Wing provided Lieutenant General William Etter, Commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region - 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern), Tyndall Air Force Base, FL., first-hand experience with CAP flying a "Fire Patrol" operational mission over Eglin AFB test ranges with Lieutenant Colonel Gerrold Heikkinen, an Instructor Pilot and Assistant Operations Officer of FL-435. The mission was flown from Tyndall AFB, FL on Friday, 26 July 2013. CAP Fire Patrol missions are part of an on-going effort to locate and control fires across the vast Eglin ranges and are scheduled twice a day/seven days a week. These missions are supported primarily by CAP aircrews from Group-1/Florida Wing (FL panhandle area). This was Lt Gen Etter's first flight on a CAP aircraft since becoming the Commander of CONR-1AF (AFNORTH). The Fire Patrol mission was conducted using a CAP Cessna 182 equipped with the Garmin "G1000 Integrated Flight Deck (Glass Cockpit)". Lt Gen Etter was impressed by many of the capabilities within the avionics suite of the C-182. In addition to participating in a real-time CAP mission, Lt Gen Etter was also introduced to several of the aircraft's systems, and how CAP aircrews use their capabilities to perform a number of flight operations missions (such as Search and Rescue). Following the flight, he stated: "I have never flown an aircraft with all of the navigation avionics capabilities in the C-182. This is an excellent platform for conducting CAP missions." As the Fire Patrol mission debrief came to a close, Lt Gen Etter reiterated his appreciation for the level of volunteerism, effort and professionalism exuded by CAP members to get the job done; and that he is glad to know he can count on CAP to participate when called upon.