For those of you who either didn't know or were afraid to ask, "I see Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets on the AirVenture grounds - what do they do?"
In summary, within FAA and Air Force standards, the CAP cadets help EAA Flight Line Operations (FLO) maintain the grass taxiways, direct aircraft, and provide emergency services.
You may have noticed some cadets riding around in a vehicle with antennas - they are searching for ELTs (emergency locator transmitters) that are active. It is their job to locate, identify, and diagnose (i.e., an accidental activation or emergency situation). What may surprise you - they handle 200-300 activations per convention!
Please remember that the CAP cadets augment FLO volunteers. They are not authorized to physically handle aircraft, nor will they be able to address most pilot questions when taxiing. When in doubt, seek the assistance of a FLO volunteer.
More information about the CAP Cadet program can be found here: http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/abou...adet-programs/