CAPITAL CLOSE-UP

CAP Launches Would-Be Pilot’s Dream
By Kimberly Barnhart
John Loomis learned an array of
aviation skills as a CAP cadet and
then officer in Oklahoma.
The U.S. Civil Air Patrol gave
him wings. Now, John Loomis works
to keep us all safe in the air. His success
in achieving that goal is linked
to CAP.
When he was only 3, Loomis,
now a Federal Aviation
Administration safety inspector in
Pine Bluff, Ark., knew he wanted to
be a pilot. His love for aviation eventually
led him to CAP. No matter
where he moved as the son of an Air
Force flight engineer, he had a CAP
family waiting for him.
“Each squadron had different skill
sets and different personalities. The
motivation of the officers determined
activities for cadets in that area,” he
said.
CAP’s diversity exposed Loomis
to a wealth of information and
opportunities. He recalled one
squadron in Oklahoma that was
intensely focused on communications.
“We had a really good leader
who taught us all about radios and
the foundation of communications.
We even built our own radio antennae!"
he said.
As a cadet and then officer,
Loomis honed his skills in air surveillance,
accident investigation and
radio/communication capabilities. “I
was able to experience the dynamics
of an accident scene and also become
familiar with the mechanics of the
aircraft.” At 16, he received his
“wings” and pilot’s license.
Other squadrons and encampments
introduced Loomis to search
and rescue operations as well as aircraft
maintenance and inspections. “I
“Looking back, I would not be who I am
if it weren’t for the Civil Air Patrol.”
-- John Loomis, FAA safety inspector
learned to work with pilots and the
ground crews. I learned the jargon
and how to ask questions,“ he said.
Loomis now uses the skills he
learned in CAP in his investigations
for the FAA. “Looking back, I would
not be who I am if it weren’t for the
Civil Air Patrol,” he said.
“Being an FAA safety inspector is
a very interesting job I truly enjoy.
There is never a dull moment,” he
said.
As one of just a few highly qualified
specialists in the nation, Loomis
has worked on several notable aviation
incidents.
Recently, he worked as a national
expert on T-34 incidents involving
metal fatigue on military trainer aircraft.
“It was a matter of the wings
falling off of these planes. There were
several incidents, one after the
other,” he said.
He is also being tapped at the
national level to interface with multiple
government agencies to ensure
airworthiness for general aviation
and other air carriers. “I am qualified
to inspect the airworthiness of any
aircraft ranging form a large commercial
plane to a hot air balloon,”
he said. ▲
Civil Air Patrol Volunteer 52 May-June 2007