CAP Helps with Wisconsin Missing Boy Search

[Spaceman3750]

http://www.channel3000.com/news/24105756/detail.html

"Currently we have the Civil Air Patrol as well as a ground search taking place. We have fire departments from throughout the county responding to help with the search as well," Meister said.

The Civil Air Patrol had one plane -- equipped with FLIR thermal imaging technology -- circling overnight. A Blackhawk helicopter, also with infrared technology, joined the air search around 10:30 p.m., according to authorities with the Sauk County Sheriff's Department.

Is CAP part of the ground search effort or do we just have that one plane aloft?

[Eclipse]

This is the second time recently that I've seen CAP and FLIR mentioned together. 

In this case I have to assume that this is the GLR GA-8 with hyperspectral ARCHER, not FLIR. 

Is FLIR, or something close to it, a capability, if not trade name for ARCHER, or is this just misinformed press?

[Spaceman3750]

I just read SCC's page on ARCHER and I don't see any mention of FLIR.

[Krapenhoeffer]

Doubt that ground teams are out. WI Wing Encampment is going on this week.

[Spaceman3750]

Doubt that ground teams are out. WI Wing Encampment is going on this week.

So every GTM and GTL in Wisconsin is at Encampment this week? If anything, that's a good thing, all your people and comm resources are in one place and easy to move, but I doubt it's true.

[Short Field]

In this case I have to assume that this is the GLR GA-8 with hyperspectral ARCHER, not FLIR.

ARCHER operates on reflected light - and it needs much more reflected light than provided by a full moon.

[Krapenhoeffer]

Well, no GTs are going out anyway. Sheriff Dive Team found the poor boy's body this morning in the Baraboo River, about 0810 CDT.
http://www.channel3000.com/news/24121479/detail.html

[bosshawk]

As mentioned above, ARCHER has absolutely no IR imaging capability, so forget that.

That said, I vaguely remember reading somewhere(don't hold me to it) that CAP was purchasing a number of FLIR units.  Have no idea when or where, but an interesting bit.

Maybe the media had it right: that a CAP airplane was using a FLIR unit.  That might be a first.

[cap235629]

our squadron has a handheld FLIR unit. It was purchased for CAP by the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. Our wing has a total of 2.

[♠SARKID♠]

And once again the police think WIWG has FLIR...thought the same thing on a different missing person search 2 years ago.

We did have ground teams out searching on Thursday, about 20ish people if memory serves.  I made my way up there Thursday night with three others but the search was ended Friday morning just as we were about to get tasked.  Encampment did hold up some people, but we made a good response.  Lots of fire and EMS were there, plus a LOT of citizen searchers.  So many they had to make a separate staging area across town.

On a good note, my ground team was first on scene at a serious car accident driving up there.  We were able to help out a victim of a hit 'n run w/rolled vehicle and serious injuries so I'm calling it a 1-1 weekend.