Entering its 80th year, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) has consistently served as a vigilant organization of citizen Airmen committed to assisting the public.

Founded on 1st December 1942 to mobilize America’s civilian aviation resources for national defense service, CAP has evolved into a premier public service organization, still carrying out emergency service missions when needed both in the air and on the ground.

As a Total Force partner and Auxiliary of the USAF, CAP is there to search for the lost, provide comfort in times of disaster and work to keep the homeland safe.  Its 60,000 members devote their time, energy and expertise toward the well-being of their communities, while also promoting aviation through aerospace/STEM education and helping shape future leaders through CAP’s cadet program.  CAP fieldis one of the largest fleets of single-engine piston aircraft in the world.

During the COVID-19 pandemic In 2020, CAP embarked on its largest service campaign since its founding.  At first, missions were basic - taking aerial photographs of temporary drive-through testing facilities to document traffic flow.  Later came requests to transport test kits along with other missions assigned by the Air Force, some of which required new processes and procedures, such as sanitizing vehicles between missions.

Later in 2020, CAP was tasked with delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) to rural locations, building temporary hospitals and other facilities, staffing emergency operations centers, delivering or serving meals, making PPE, hauling mobile command centers, expediting test samples to labs, conducting aerial photography and using unit locations for blood drives for the American Red Cross.  By the end of the year, CAP was tasked with assisting in distribution of vaccines to remote areas such as Native American reservations.

CAP’s COVID response was conducted whilst carrying out 90% of inland search and rescue in the U.S. as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and other agencies.  During the Fiscal Year 2020, CAP units were credited with 130 saves and a further 107 in 2021.

Following Hurricane Ida, members assisted in collecting and processing damage assessment information for the Federal Emergency Management Agency aiding the focus and speed of their response.

The true power of CAP is in its flexibility and the ‘can-do’ attitude of its members who perform their duties with the same vigilance as its founders, preserving the Patrol’s legacy of service while maintaining a commitment to nearly 1,500 communities nationwide.

Accordingly, the Civil Air Patrol are very worthy winners of the Master’s Trophy for the North America Region in 2021.

Previous Winners:

2020  William "Bill" Alder   Sealand Aviation Inc.

2019  Cougar Helicopters Inc

2018  Coulson Aviation

2017  Kenn Borek Air Ltd

2016  Saskatchewan Air Ambulance Service

2015  Civil Air Search and Resue Association (CASARA)

2014  No Award

2013  Bombardier Aerospace

2012  Boeing Company Training Systems and Government Services

2011  Conair Aviation Ltd