Mass Fly Day at Deer Valley Airport

The Deer Valley Composite Squadron gathered at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport on Saturday, February 25, for a “Mass Fly Day.” In addition to Deer Valley’s airplane, CAP aircraft from Glendale, Prescott, Scottsdale, and Yuma squadrons were on hand to take approximately 20 cadets on orientation flights. While some cadets were airborne, others were honing their skills in a variety of ways: getting signed off to operate CAP radios; learning to marshall airplanes; and searching for an Emergency Locator Transmitter that was hidden somewhere on the airport grounds.

The CAP members started with a safety briefing at 7 a.m. First flights out were at 8:20 a.m. and expected to last about two hours.

Maj Mark Schadt, Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302 Commander, conducts a safety briefing for cadets participating in Mass Fly Day.

Lt Col Paul Gerner teaches the cadets about how to preflight an airplane.

Capt Klara Olcott talks with cadets who are training for aircraft marshalling.

Five Civil Air Patrol planes lined up on the ramp and ready for cadet orientation flights.