The Coast Guard Auxiliary's Aviation Division is uniquely poised to assist in a wide variety of the Coast Guard’s emergency response efforts because its aviators and aircrew are citizens who typically are very familiar with the areas they are asked to patrol. But an aircrew member’s detailed knowledge of a region, be it land or over water, means little to nothing when conducting aerial searches unless they have been trained in Flight Observation techniques and have a thorough knowledge of the types of vessels, structures, and landmass features they will be scouring during a time of emergency.
To ensure its Air Observers have those critical skills and education, the Auxiliary created an Auxiliary Flight Crew Initial Qualification Syllabus to serve as a well-rounded introduction to Auxiliary members seeking Air Observer qualification. Training for the syllabus’ six topical areas is conducted by a First Pilot or Aircraft Commander (this includes Flight Examiners and Instructor Pilots).
Auxiliarists seeking Air Observer Qualification begin their journey by studying in six areas directly related to aviation operations: Mission Planning/Performance, Communications, Navigation, Emergencies, Flight Observation, and actual Flight Experience (at least ten airborne mission hours as an Observer Trainee).
Expertise in each of these areas is, of course, vital for anyone serving on an aircrew; at any point, they might have to assume rudimentary Communications or Navigation duties. But the meat-and-potatoes for Air Observers is the Flight Observation component. Here, they must prove to the instructor their capabilities in carrying out seven functions:
- Identification of waterway features and vessel traffic
- Demonstrate the proper use of cameras and binoculars
- Maintain situational awareness at all times
- Utilize sound observational techniques whether searching over water or land
- Learn all surface/air and air/surface signals
- Display a sound knowledge of wind/sea states and directions of both
Although the Coast Guard Auxiliary discontinued the Air Observer/Pilot ribbon and replaced it with the more generic Operations Program Ribbon, the Auxiliary has decided to allow Auxiliarists to continue to wear it and other obsolete ribbons provided they are in good condition.