As the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, CAP has been pla
ced under the Air Force Homeland Security Directorate.
At the request of New York Governor George E. Pataki, on 12 September, 2001, CAP provided the first direct aerial perspective of the World Trade Center disaster site.
CAP increases our nation’s security capabilities by providing airborne reconnaissance and imagery, disaster and damage assessment, airborne transportation of personnel, equipment and critical supplies, airborne communications-relay platforms, and multi-layered communications support. CAP provides manpower for communications and emergency operations centers, search and rescue teams, and ground support teams.
CAP can put a manned airborne platform over any major city or strategic resource in the country in less than two hours, safely and cost-effectively.